D’Angelo Russell has been mixed up in all kinds of trade rumors recently amid a stretch of ugly play for the Lakers. But as his play has improved in recent weeks, the feelings around him are starting to change in Los Angeles and the odds of a trade are starting to dwindle.
“Yes, at least as far as the Lakers are concerned,” wrote The Athletic’s Jovan Buha on if D’Lo’s play makes a trade less likely. “Russell’s recent play has certainly made their decision harder. He’s leading the team in points (27.4) and is second in assists (6.6) since re-entering the starting lineup on Jan. 13. This is not only his best stretch of the season but undoubtedly the best stretch of either of his Lakers tenures and one of the best of his career.”
The Lakers are at their best when they’ve got a reliable playmaker and shooter in the backcourt to help support LeBron James and space out the interior for drives to the rim. So when Russell was playing well last season, it’s no surprise that they were dominating the West. And while he’s finally playing well again following an ugly cold streak, his inconsistency remains a big problem for them and it could ultimately lead them to move on from the young point guard.
It’s no coincidence that the Lakers looked like a different team when D’Lo got it going. Thanks to his offensive explosion, the Lakers are 6-4 over their last 10 games with some quality wins against the Bulls, Nets, Mavericks, and Thunder. The common factor in these games has been D’Angelo Russell, who has hit a particularly nice groove recently, which he followed up last night with a 29-point, 4-assist performance. In truth, the Lakers are hard to beat when D’Angelo Russell is locked in and making shots. The question is, will he always be so streaky with his shot or can he learn to be more consistent with his offense?
This season, with averages of 16.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 0.8 steals per game on 48% shooting, Russell is playing like the third-best player on this team and that’s exactly what he needs to be if the Lakers want to get anywhere in April or May. At 9th in the standings this year, the margin for error is so slim for LA and it will take everything to beat the odds.
After winning the in-season tournament this past December, the Lakers looked to be on track for a top-six finish in the West. But after getting home from Las Vegas, they’ve been lethargic on all fronts. Ranked 20th offensively, the Lakers have struggled to put up points this season and their defense (ranked 14th) hasn’t been strong enough to make up for the difference. Even so, the Lakers still have a path back to the Western Conference Finals and if they can just stay within striking range of the top 8, they will have a chance to make some serious noise.
Regardless of what happens between now and February’s deadline, D’Angelo Russell is going to make or break this season for the Lakers. If he plays well and provides them with the stability they need in the backcourt, it could unlock the best version of the Lakers. But if he slides back to some of his old habits, it could set the stage for a big-time trade in an effort to save the season.
