Former Ohio State superstar D’Angelo Russel will be staying in Los Angeles.
According to NBA Insider Gene Wojnarowski of ESPN, Russell has agreed to a new deal with the Lakers worth $37 million over two years. He started his career in the City of Angeles when L.A. selected him with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. From there though, it was a wandering journey.
Russell fell into hot water with the Lakers thanks to some off-the-court comments and was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He took advantage of the new scenery and blossomed into an All-Star during the 2018-2019 season. He was then part of a blockbuster trade that sent him to the Golden State Warriors during the next season as a part of the Kevin Durant deal.
He would have to keep the USPS change of address form among his bookmarked internet pages though after he was sent to Minnesota just half a season with the Timberwolves, but then came full circle when he was dealt to the Lakers as a part of the trade deadline.
Free agent G D’Angelo Russell has agreed on a two-year, $37 million contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, co-heads of @CAA_Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz along with Antonio Russell tell ESPN. Deal has player option. Lakers secure their starting point guard. pic.twitter.com/ScrZHD7Jio
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
Simply put, without Russell, Los Angeles would have most likely missed the NBA playoffs. With him, the Lakers went on a run, got into the play-in tournament and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals when L.A. fell to the eventual NBA champion, Denver Nuggets.
Now, Russell will have to show that he can be an integral part of the Lakers lineup as the organization starts to put things in motion for the 2023-2024 campaign.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
