What are the chances D'Angelo Russell is still a Laker in two weeks? 👀 @jovanbuha tells @_JasonLT about LA's plans at the deadline
Over the last few games, D'Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers has been playing phenomenal basketball. This comes amid rumors of him being traded to another team before the upcoming NBA trade deadline. Because of his powerful performances, some fans believe that he has earned his place in the roster.
But speaking on Hoops Tonight, Jason Timpf said that isn't likely. No matter how well Russell is playing, he's probably still leaving the Lakers, Timpf said.
“He waived his de facto no trade clause," Timpf said. "The Lakers signed that with the thought of a tradable midsize contract that you could pair with another one, like say a Rui Hachimura, or a Gabe Vincent."
He added, "It’s not this albatross contract where you’re committing a bunch of money to D’Lo and you can’t move it.”
The Lakers will probably part ways with Russell because the nature of his contract makes it smart for them to do so.
The other reason that Russell is likely leaving the team is because he signed a two-year extension with the Lakers in the summer and they believe that he either plays really well and opts out of a further extension or he remains inconsistent in the future and drags the team down.
The last seven games have been wonderful for Russell. He has averaged 27 points and 6.5 assists per game and has helped the team score a few important wins.
Despite that, there are still plenty of rumors about him leaving the team before the February 8 deadline.
When the Lakers signed their new deal with Russell, they created a contract that would allow them to easily say goodbye to the star. Therefore, trading him from the team could be totally painless for the front office.
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