Los Angeles Lakers: Should LA give D’Angelo Russell a max contract?
Exploring whether the Los Angeles Lakers should offer a max contract to D’Angelo Russell, who is set to hit the free agency market this summer
The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the NBA’s free agency period with high hopes. With a plethora of big-name free agents set to hit the open market, it’s almost a guarantee that Los Angeles – fresh after trading for Anthony Davis – will land one marquee free agent.
Question is, which one will they identify as the team’s top target? The Lakers have already been linked to Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kemba Walker and, most recently, D’Angelo Russell.
For the sake of the argument, let’s just assume that the Lakers will do what it needs to in order to have the ability to sign a max player. In that case, should Los Angeles take a shot and max out D’Angelo Russell?
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Only because I don’t think anyone would argue with the fact that the other players on the list are worthy of max contracts. Russell, however, is a player that may or may not be viewed as a max player, after just one breakout season with the Brooklyn Nets this past season.
During his breakout season with the Nets, Russell averaged 21 points, seven assists, and four rebounds on 43 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range en route to his first all-star appearance as well.
In fairness, it was his first real season with the Nets too. During his previous season, he was plagued by injury which cut his time on the floor short. During a fully healthy season in Brooklyn, Russell proved that he could lead a team to the playoffs – something that many questioned well into his young career in the NBA.
It was part of the reason why the Los Angeles Lakers traded him after just two seasons, and why he was considered – by many – a draft bust already. However, that narrative more than changed during his all-star season with the Nets.
Even though Russell has changed the narrative on his career to a certain extent, it still would be quite risky to give a max deal to a payer that had one really great season. It’s still somewhat of a small sample size and doesn’t give us a clear indication to what Russell will be for the remainder of his career.
What if the Lakers hand Russell the max money that he’s expected to demand on the open market, and then takes somewhat of a step back next season? Or, what if the Lakers don’t offer him the max and then he blossoms even more next season with whatever team takes the chance on him?
It works both ways. And there’s a big decision the Lakers need to take. However, if they’re really keying on adding a ball-handling guard to their strong core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, it could come down to Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving or D’Angelo Russell.
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Though, in the end, the market could end up dictating their targets. And, from the optics, Russell might be the team’s best shot at adding an elite talent in free agency this summer. So, if that holds true over the weekend, should the Lakers max out D’Angelo Russell?