D'Angelo Russell
The most likely Los Angeles Lakers player to be traded is the individual who's already being shopped around the NBA: D'Angelo Russell. The 28-year-old is one of the most productive point guards in the Association, but his postseason shortcomings have spawned a reported desire to move on.
With an expiring contract that will become more attractive to teams closer to the trade deadline, Russell is all but guaranteed to be traded during or before the 2024-25 season.
Russell put together an excellent 2023-24 regular season with the Lakers. He averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per game, shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc and 82.8 percent at the free throw line.
Russell also set the all-time franchise record with 226 three-point field goals made in a single season and posted the second-best three-point field goal percentage of any player in the top 20 in the NBA in makes.
True as that may be, it was yet another disappointing showing in the playoffs from Russell this past season. He infamously shot 0-of-7 from the field in a pivotal Game 3 loss to the Denver Nuggets, and went 2-of-10 from beyond the arc in the 108-106 loss that ended the series.
Russell has been underrated during this offseason of trade rumors, but that doesn't change the fact that the Lakers are already looking to move him.
Waiting until the trade deadline could be their best shot at getting maximum value in return.