Things haven’t gone according to the script for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Before the start of the 2023-24 season, fans of the Lakers were expecting them to compete for a title. However, their lofty preseason ambitions of an NBA title look like a far-fetched dream now. With the season reaching its halfway stage, the Lakers currently languish in the 9th spot in the Western Conference standings.

The Lakers’ hierarchy needs to act promptly in order to improve their current roster and equip LeBron and Anthony Davis with adequate support for another assault on the NBA title. In recent weeks, reports have emerged that the Lakers are interested in Hawks’ guard, Dejounte Murray. But Murray won’t come cheap, as he is a prized asset for the Atlanta Hawks. To secure the services of Murray, the Lakers may need to trade either D’Angelo Russell or Austin Reaves, with current indications pointing towards Russell as the likely player to be included in the deal.

As per reports by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “Russell waived his right to veto trades as part of his deal last summer. The Lakers viewed him (Russell) as a possible trade option back then and his $17 million deal fits into that mode.” Earlier last week, The Athletics’ Shams Charania had revealed that the trade centered around D’Angelo Russell, a 2029 first-round draft pick, and a pick swap. But he added, “The hold up was that Atlanta wanted to find a third team for D’Angelo Russell.”

While Dejounte Murray would certainly improve the Lakers’ roster, trading Russell could prove to be a mistake. Since the turn of the year, D’Angelo Russell has been on a tear. He has averaged 23.8 points, 6.1 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 12 games this month. Furthermore, in those twelve games, Russell has two 30-point performances. Russell has been one of the standout players for the Lakers in the past three weeks, which has now given rise to questions about moving forward with this.

Should the Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell?

It’s no secret that the Lakers are scanning the trade market for potential trades that could bolster their roster. The front office considers D’Angelo Russell tradeable, owing to him waiving his right to veto a trade in a deal last summer. Regardless, Russell is a player who can create his own shot, a quality very few Lakers players possess. Furthermore, Russell has developed into one of the most reliable three-point shooters, maintaining an impressive 3-point shooting percentage of 42.1% from beyond the arc.

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Despite his impressive performances, there’s a huge cloud hanging over Russell’s future. However, the Lakers’ hierarchy should try to keep hold of Russell and try to orchestrate a trade around other players because D-Lo could prove to be an integral part of the Lakers if they do make it into the playoffs.

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