Reports saying the Lakers will have to pay to get D'Angelo Russell off their roster reminds me of the "it's going to take two firsts minimum to get Westbrook out of LA and get anything back" from last season. And if that's REALLY the stance around the league, then just keep DLo.
According to most reports, the Charlotte Hornets are hoping to make some noise before the upcoming NBA trade deadline. The team needs plenty of help and could go down a number of avenues to get it. Because of this, they could get involved in a potential trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers want Dejounte Murray from the Hawks but that will only happen if a third team gets involved to pick up D'Angelo Russell, LA's point guard who is at the center of multiple trade rumors.
Speaking on Michael Scotto's podcast, Lakers insider Jovan Buha mentioned that the Hornets could be the team to take on Russell.
"You mentioned some of the names I heard out there. Brooklyn, Charlotte, Washington. Detroit and San Antonio also could get involved," Buha said.
A trade for Russell could make a lot of financial sense for the Hornets, especially if they can get rid of another expiring contract like Kyle Lowry or Gordon Hayward.
However, what would they do with Russell once they had them?
Would he be willing to stick around in Charlotte and play a backup point guard role behind LaMelo Ball? If not, the Hornets could hold onto Russell for a few months and then trade him in the upcoming offseason.
The Hornets are one of the worst teams in the league so they have the luxury of taking their time and only committing when they are happy with a deal. It is unlikely they will turn things around this season so they should solely be plotting ways to rebound next year. Could a trade for Russell get rid of some hefty contract they don't want and possibly lay groundwork for a resurgence next year?
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