D'Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell has spent the 2024 offseason at the heart of trade rumors. That certainly implies that the Los Angeles Lakers have already decided to move on from him, but the possibility still exists that he could spend the 2024-25 season in purple and gold.
In the event that the Lakers struggle to find an ideal trade partner or simply decide to give Russell one last chance, he'll need to take a significant step forward this coming season.
Russell has provided tremendous value in regular season games during his second stint with the Lakers. In 2023-24, he averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on .456/.415/.828 shooting.
With a minimum of 60 games played, only four players averaged at least 18.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made in 2023-24: Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, and Russell.
True as that may be, the postseason was yet another example of Russell falling off the proverbial cliff from a quality-of-play perspective. It was the third time in four appearances that he shot below 40 percent from the field, including an infamous Game 3 performance during which he scored zero points in 24 minutes of play.
If Russell is going to earn a new contract with the Lakers, then he needs to not only maintain the pace in the regular season, but transform himself as a postseason player.