D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

As for playoff performance, It depends on the team, and their expectations. He would have been cool in most places with his play, in the 1st two rounds. We are not talking about a max contract player or something.
Here ..you gotta be able to consistently knock down shots, in order to fit with Lebron.

 

DLO has been horrible in this series, but I still think you gotta keep him from an asset management perspective because if you lose him for NOTHING...you can't even use that money to re-sign schroder since we don't have his bird rights.

Ultimately what needs to happen is probably a sign & trade between Mavs and Lakers. DLO/Bamba/17th pick or DLO/Beasley/17th pick for Kyrie.

I'm not sure it is the best move but we can't lose DLO for nothing this summer. That is terrible asset management imo..we gave up one of those coveted 1st round picks in 2027 to make this happen. Granted it was protected...you don't let a guy like DLO just walk. You need to maybe sign him to a smaller deal in years and hope you can flip him. He STILL played well in the 2 series prior - that cannot be forgotten.

 

D'Angelo for Simmons isn't such a bad idea either. Teams make trades for either a player they want, or to get rid of a player they already have.

 

Simmons can’t shoot. Can’t win all your games 80-70. Plus he’s had back issues and is not himself yet

 

I think a change of scenery is going to clear up his health issues. He could never shoot, but he can facilitate, and defend 1-5 at an All NBA, 1st Team Defense level though.

 

Man, Ben is a mess. He's worse than Westbrook right now. Please don't entertain this idea for the health of Lakers' fans

 

He doesn't want to be in Brooklyn. He'd be very motivated to play in LA IMO. Simmons and AD would be a hell of a combination defensively. I'm not worried about his shooting, the defense, rebounding and ability to facilitate , outweighs the shooting. He was All NBA in Philadelphia without it. You can't be so quick to write some of these young guys off in this League. The League is full of redemption stories. That guy is 26 years old, he hasn't reached his prime yet.

 

I feel you, but I think his mental issues revolve around him, not playing where he wants to play more than anything. He didn't have a choice in going to Brooklyn. As soon as he got there KD and Kyrie shortly wanted out. I wouldn't want to see him in Golden State for Draymond either.

 

Simmons would crumble under the bright lights of being a Laker

 

i was in simmons's corner until he couldn't show up in bkn. and as sirron mentioned, it's not just mental. i don't like back issues in young players (or in old players!).

i'd stay far away from simmons until he's a full-on cheap reclamation project.

 

Yep, as a MLE he's worth a flyer. As a $38m player, absolutely f***ing not.

 

yeah, no way. i was thinking more like shaun livingston when gs got him. the shine was off, and then he became a really valuable do-it-all glue guy off the bench.

 

Meh..He wouldn't crumble anymore than D'Angelo and Malik already have. The difference is that he is an elite defensive player.

The guy is 6'10, 250, and can guard anyone, from Steph to Jokic, better than anyone we currently have, and do it straight up. He can impact a game without scoring a point. That's a special talent. If he's playing with the Australian national team this summer, I don't think there is anything wrong with his back today. I just think he wants out of Brooklyn. Harden, KD and Kyrie did too, they got their wish. A fresh start on the West Coast will work wonders for him IMO. I just hope it's not in Golden State.

 

We are paying D'Angelo and Malik 40 right now. 47 if we bring both back next season. MLE my a**.

 

Why not? He would be the 4th option on offense here. I don't think the pressure applies to playing defense.

 

The Lakers or Warriors is probably the best places for Simmons. No offensive pressure and he totally transforms both teams defense. Phoenix too I guess.

 

Simmons is a far superior defender, than Danny Green was in the bubble though Cookie. D'Angelo and Malik can't guard a chair, neither one of them.They will be more expensive to keep, than Simmons at 38 million to boot. He's still my 2nd option behind Turner.