(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers have D’Angelo Russell to thank for their recent turnaround as the guard has been shooting it well from deep since the calendar flipped to 2024.
Russell was widely expected to be traded at the NBA trade deadline because of his contract, but his offensive explosion was enough to make the front office reconsider.
That decision seems to be paying off as Russell has been the team’s third-best player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis during this stretch and is in line for a raise come the offseason.
The former No. 2 overall pick has a player option for the 2024-25 NBA season and will likely decline it and hit unrestricted free agency.
While there weren’t many teams trying to trade for Russell at the deadline, things should be different this time around in the summer.
One potential team that could make a run at Russell is the Orlando Magic, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic via Legion Hoops.
“Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor for [D’Angelo Russell],” Buha reported.
“Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor for [D’Angelo Russell].”
— @jovanbuha pic.twitter.com/Ga6gOCUgyU
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 31, 2024
Orlando has been one of the fun stories of the regular season as they’re firmly in the playoff mix and seem to be on the cusp of being a perennial postseason team.
With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the frontcourt, the Magic are a legitimate point guard away from being a problem.
It’s easy to envision Russell’s fit on the roster as a playmaker and shooter, and with how much cap space they’re projected to have they could definitely make an offer too good for him to pass up.
The post NBA East Team Is Reportedly Emerging As A Suitor For D’Angelo Russell appeared first on The Cold Wire.