After losing back-to-back games in a span of just over 24 hours, the Los Angeles Lakers have once again fallen under .500. As a result, the sense of urgency has grown for them to not only string together wins with consistency but to also potentially make a trade.
The one name most have talked about is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. The Lakers and Hawks have talked about a potential deal, but the Hawks reportedly don’t want Russell, which would necessitate a third team getting involved.
Overall, Russell appears to be the Lakers’ best trade asset, especially since they’re reportedly adamant about not trading Austin Reaves unless they would receive a bona fide star in return.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Brooklyn Nets could look to trade for Russell (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via ESPN:
“If they do make a deal, it would likely be for a guard — former Nets All-Star D’Angelo Russell has been among those names floated,” Windhorst wrote. “With an expiring $20.3 million deal, [Spencer] Dinwiddie is the likely fulcrum in any big move before the deadline.”
Russell once played for the Nets during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. It was during his second season with them that he earned his lone All-Star game nod.
Los Angeles has been reported to have interest in three Nets players — guard Spencer Dinwiddie and wings Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith.
If one reads more deeply into these reports, perhaps a three-team trade could result between the Lakers, Hawks and Nets that would land the Lakers Murray.
