Lakers rumors: JJ Redick indirectly addresses D'Angelo Russell's future in L.A.

Los Angeles Lakers fans have been operating under the assumption that D'Angelo Russell is entering his final season with the team. Some have even been functioning with the belief that he won't make it to opening night, and will instead be traded before the rumors can escalate.

In a recent interview, Lakers head coach JJ Redick indirectly addressed the rumors with a comment that seemed to reveal Russell's fate.

Russell is coming off of a record-setting regular season and devastatingly poor postseason. It's been the duality of his experience in Los Angeles, as the Lakers have become accustomed to his explosive play over the course of 82 games, and his implosions during the playoffs.

In an appearance on The Lowe Post with Zach Lowe, Redick seemingly diffused the trade rumors by stating that Russell will be a starter for the Lakers in 2024-25.

"It'll be the starting five that went 23-10 last year."

The starting five that Redick is alluding to consisted of Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Russell.

D'Angelo Russell will start in 2024-25—putting trade rumors on hold?

The Lakers may still trade Russell, but naming him a starter seemingly implies that he'll remain in Los Angeles. At the very least, it's indicative of the franchise's preference to see how he plays under Redick before discarding one of the most skilled and productive point guards in the NBA.

This past season, Russell 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.

That production put him in rare air. For starters, he joined All-Star guards Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, and Donovan Mitchell as the only players who averaged at least 18.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made per game in 2023-24.

Moreover, he joined Stephen Curry, Lillard, and Kyle Lowry as the only players in NBA history to average at least 18.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 three-point field goals made on 40.0 percent shooting or better from beyond the arc.

In the process of shooting the lights out, Russell set the franchise record for three-point field goals made in a single season at 226. That's an especially relevant fact when considering Redick's well-documented goal to increase the team's production in the three-point shooting department.

In 2023-24, the Lakers ranked No. 28 in three-point field goal attempts despite finishing in the top 10 in three-point field goal percentage.

Russell will now have a chance to play for a head coach who projects to fit and embrace what he brings to the table. That doesn't necessarily confirm that he'll spend the entire 2024-25 season in Los Angeles, but he'll at least have the chance to prove himself to the new locker room leader.

It may not be the development that Lakers fans anticipated, but it's a sign of how committed the franchise is to exploring the true potential of a core that reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals.