D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Opted In!

i really don't think anyone will offer him more than 20 per--unless it's on a one-year deal a la bruce brown. we should be able to keep him, and no, i don't like the upgrade options out there very much.

our offseason moves should be a new coach and a playable center. move gabe for a gabe-level center, sign dinwiddie using whichever mle we have, get new coach, expect an 8-win bump.

 

I vote change the title suffix to, "Defense .... I'm Working On It"

 

As good as DLo has been...I feel like we'll always run into a lack of backcourt athleticism problem with those two if/when we get into the playoffs. I'm just not sure how high a ceiling that pairing has long term, and Reaves is the younger, cheaper and arguably better player. I don't have any ideas here, I was lukewarm on DLo for Murray thing. DLo is too good/important to just let him walk, but I don't know if he's the right fit to lock in next to Reaves long term.

 

If the price is very reasonable as abeer has suggested, say 20-24M for 3 or 4 years with a team option at the end, just do it. And the contract will always be movable if it has some years on it. Who else is coming that wouldn't put us back behind the Westbrook roster 8-ball, that does everything as well on offense as DLO PLUS is this mythical PG stopper? Trae Young sure as hell ain't it. That's why we have hopefully Vando healthy going forward, or some other legit 3 and D wing we could start at SF to blunt the speedy offensive PGs we face and move AR up to defend the 3 spot. You guys want this creature at the point that doesn't exist which we have any shot at getting. Schroder wasn't it either, but was great off the bench when that help was needed. Rui has NOWHERE come close to peaking yet either and how rare is he with that body and athleticism and offensive skills enough to really be a Kawhi lite type player. Dude is 6'8" and 230lbs and strong enough that Ham even sticks him on Joker, whether a good idea or not.

 

D’Angelo Russell: « I can hardly jump, but I can kick a**** to your favorite players »

D’Angelo Russell admitted that he was jealous of the more athletic NBA players.

« You need to admire this, appreciate and acknowledge it. When I see an athletic player, I just look at myself and understand that I can’t do half of what he does, but there are people who appreciate me for, what am I doing. This is the NBA.

I envy many of these guys. They score from above and do all these crazy things. I have two left legs. I hardly jump, but I can kick a**** to your favorite players », – said the point guard «Lakers».

Source: YouTube channel The Backyard Podcast

 

Well yeah, I think they should re-sign him. I definitely don't want to let him walk. But I'm just skeptical of a DLo/Reaves backcourt ever being championship caliber, so if that's the goal changes probably have to come at the PG spot or the SF spot because LeBron, AD and Reaves aren't going anywhere. At the very least, I think we need a legit, 3&D type third guard that can close games over Reaves or DLo if/when it becomes apparent that we need defense from that second guard spot more than offense. It's great that Vando can defend star guards, but its still not optimal for DLo or Reaves to be regularly guarding 3s. I think there was hope that Max could be that guy as soon as this season, but he's not far enough along yet.

 

I feel the Lakers will probably commit to Dlo. Something like 4 years / 100 million. Fact is, Dlo is a great fit with the Lebron/AD combo. The guy could really catch and shoot, and has an incredible chemistry with actually making AD a better player on the offensive end. Lakers have his bird rights and the decision is simple imo. Hold on to the asset. Then, if compelled to, Lakers can utilize existing assets, i.e. Reaves, Rui, 2024 1st, 2029 1st, 2031 1st, etc. to perhaps obtain a superstar-type wing player. Mitchell would be the one to go after, but I don't advise creating a Trae/Dlo backcourt. Honestly, Lakers could extract let say 25% more value for Reaves from another team, due to his popularity. He produced significant all-star votes, and he was put on the world stage in FIBA. I feel that one of the southern teams, such as OKC, New Orleans, Memphis, etc. would love to have him, and would overpay a bit, with ticket, merchandise, etc. sales being a major factor. Lakers could benefit if executed properly.

 

Come on DLo you just can't no show games. Sigh just when he is playing so we'll just a complete dud all around

 

Did he score in the 2nd half?

 

This is EXACTLY the reason why I wanted Murray. DLo has been great offensively, but he and Austin will almost always get cooked against the athletic back courts.
I don’t know what the answer is.
I just know for sure it’s not Trae Young.

 

Can't play Russell and Reaves together, for long stretches against certain guys. It's not going to change, they don't have the lateral quickness. That's why I keep saying, bring Austin off the bench.

We have what we have, some nights the other guys just have to step up, and exploit their matchups. Rui and Lebron came through, AD didn't.

 

i think you can start reaves and dlo IF you have vando in the lineup. vando takes the primary scoring threat (particularly if he's ball handler). without vando, i agree that playing reaves off the bench and starting a sg that can defend is the right move, but we haven't had reddish much and max wasn't quite ready for that role this year.

 

His defense was bad but I liked his shot selection. He just didn't make shots he has been making. Still a process improvement on otherwise s***ty hsme

 

D'Angelo went 0-5 in the 2nd half, with 2 assists.

 

He needs a Marcus Smart/Caruso next to him defensively.

He's going to get torched in the next Sac game, too.

 

He took easier shots against the Kings and bricked like all of them. Dammit he's been so good overall

 

Ice. Water. In. His. Veins.

 

Game of the year so far.
It's D-lo that we were waiting for

 

D'Angelo stepped up. Bron did you take notice? He put on a show..no doubt