For the second time in his NBA career, D’Angelo Russell has been traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Brooklyn Nets.
The trade, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, would send Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
Russell, 28, began his career with the Purple and Gold as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After a strong start, his production stalled, and behind-the-scenes issues led to the Lakers trading him to Brooklyn in 2017.
D’Angelo Russell (1) of the Los Angeles Lakers hits Xavier Tillman (2) of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of Game 6 of the first round of the NBA Basketball Playoff series in Los Angeles, Friday, April 28, 2023. Be protected. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
He was an All-Star in 2019 with Brooklyn and was traded to the Golden State Warriors that same year. After just one season in San Francisco, he was traded again, this time to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He then returned to LeBron James’ Lakers in a mid-season trade from Minnesota in 2023.
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Russell has struggled with the Lakers this season, averaging 12.5 points on just 41% shooting in 26 minutes per game.
He will now return to the Nets, who are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with a 12-19 record.
Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets reacts after scoring in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in New York. The Nets defeated the Grizzlies 106-104. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The Lakers will receive much-needed size in the form of 6-foot-7 Finney Smith in the trade. During his nine-year career, Finney-Smith has built a reputation as a solid defender and 3-point shooter.
The 31-year-old spent six full seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before heading to Brooklyn in the trade that brought Kyrie Irving to Dallas.
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