D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by The Original 81, Jun 25, 2015.

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  1. tada

    tada - Lakers All Star -

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    I haven't watched him at all this year, but has he made ANY progress as a basketball player?
     
    tada, Apr 12, 2018
    #10261
  2. KB24

    KB24 Administrator Staff Member

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    I don't think so. None.

    I think he has always had that talent and even as a Laker, he used to flash star potential here and there. With the Nets he flashes that potential more frequently but is literally still the same in terms of consistency, reliability and so forth.

    When I ask myself what exactly has Russell improved...I can't think of anything. His D hasn't improved, his J hasn't improved, his consistency hasn't improved, his passing hasn't improved, his dumb TOs are still the same...I really don't know what exactly he has improved.

    The only thing I see is that the Nets give him more freedom to play within his instincts while the Lakers always tried to force him into a pass first player (which was dumb). Russell is a scoring playmaker and he needs that freedom offensively to score and free float with the green light and pass while busy scoring. Forcing him to be a pass first PG who scores never worked. The Nets are more intelligent in that regard. To get back to the point, his statistical improvements was less because he improved but more because he had more freedom to be himself. But at the end of the day, he is the same player...still...after 3 years in the NBA.

    The only time Russell really jumped was the 2nd year he played in the Summer league. He was just dominant and you could see what a year in the NBA had led to. But then over an 82 games season things even out and he fizzled out a little bit.
     
    KB24, Apr 12, 2018
    #10262
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  3. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    "But I was playing for a bad coach in a bad system for a bad franchise..."

    [​IMG]
     
    sirronstuff, Apr 12, 2018
    #10263
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  4. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

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    i still like to wonder what could have been with dlo+lonzo

    but at the end of the day, i'm glad this trade was made
     
    432J, Apr 12, 2018
    #10264
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  5. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    i will render my final verdict some time in early july. no stars signed, i'm still down on the trade. no need to give up talent to clear space for nada. doubling down with nance would make it even more painful. all the eggs are in one basket.
     
    abeer3, Apr 12, 2018
    #10265
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  6. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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    Attitude and maturity problems trumps his mid level talent. He is an NBA player for sure but he also is a j******
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Apr 12, 2018
    #10266
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  7. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    Eh. Even in a vacuum, I'd prefer Kuzma/Lopez over Russell/Mozgov, and if you'd like to get technical I'd honestly also prefer Hart/Bryant/Lopez over Russell/Mozgov.

    I think the move is fine as is, but obviously if we end up signing a max FA as well, then this trade goes down as one of the best in Laker history. You get a young asset that has his head screwed on straight, a good vet, and a max contract? That's incredible and all in the face of some daunting odds handed down by the previous regime.
     
    therealdeal, Apr 13, 2018
    #10267
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  8. KB24

    KB24 Administrator Staff Member

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    I think it makes no sense to say the trade was for Kuzma/Lopez...

    the Lakers would have picked Kuzma ANYWAY at 28 instead of trading it to the Jazz.

    Its more Josh Hart/Lopez.
     
    KB24, Apr 13, 2018
    #10268
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  9. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

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    I've heard this argument a lot. I don't agree with it, because there's plenty of ways we could have missed out on this player. We know San Antonio was eyeing him as well. Even if you do subscribe to this thought process though, that's why I said I'd also prefer Hart/Bryant/Lopez to Russell/Mozgov (and yes you should include Bryant since his pick was acquired when we moved down).
     
    therealdeal, Apr 13, 2018
    #10269
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  10. Barnstable

    Barnstable Supreme Fuzzler of Lakersball.com Staff Member

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    Russel is a talented player that is immature to the point I wouldn’t want him on this team whether we sign two max players this summer or not.

    We have a group of really talented young players with great work ethic and attitude. Tons of young talent. I don’t get why we are still talking about trading this one that obviously has maturity issues. How many talented young players do we need? We even got out of Mozgov’s contract, so where’s the down side?
     
    Barnstable, Apr 14, 2018
    #10270
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  11. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

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    I have to agree, but it’s also easy to root for one that was our own for some fans.

    Maybe in the same way that some can root for Trevor Ariza.
     
    sirronstuff, Apr 14, 2018
    #10271
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  12. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    could have grabbed more complementary talent in trade for dlo (as opposed to just salary dumping) if he absolutely had to go. that's an expensive-a** salary dump. like, most expensive ever.

    put it this way: if we had the #2 overall pick this summer, nobody would be suggesting we move it with deng for space. and before people say "well, dlo was a s***ty #2 pick", i disagree--his overall performance is probably on par with the average #2 overall pick at this point. that might be a commentary on the draft in general, though.
     
    abeer3, Apr 15, 2018
    #10272
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  13. Barnstable

    Barnstable Supreme Fuzzler of Lakersball.com Staff Member

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    That’s a Lakers fan perspective. We heard repeatedly that the league didn’t value Dlo as much. They had been trying to trade him for a while, so we took what was a good haul for a player with little value across the league
     
    Barnstable, Apr 15, 2018
    #10273
  14. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    More complementary talent than Lopez, Kuzma and Hart? I honestly don't understand this thinking after the seasons those 3 players just had. Their performances and stats are in the books.

    :KobeConfused:
     
    LTLakerFan, Apr 15, 2018
    #10274
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  15. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    lopez = cap space
    kuzma = would have had anyway
    hart = solid, but not clearly as good as russell
    bryant = c'mon, this dude may be out of the league in two years

    no big FA acquisition or trade that required cap space, i'm sour. this year.
     
    abeer3, Apr 15, 2018
    #10275
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  16. Barnstable

    Barnstable Supreme Fuzzler of Lakersball.com Staff Member

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    Again, that’s Lakers tinted glasses. The league didn’t value Dlo that much pure and simple
     
    Barnstable, Apr 15, 2018
    #10276
  17. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    you're probably right. i'd have been tempted to hold him at that point.

    again: i shut up when the space is used for something. and i'll shut up quickly if and when that happens. but not before.

    i think the argument that russell was addition by subtraction is pretty weak at this point.

    also, i'm extra salty tonight watching george dominate a playoff game.
     
    abeer3, Apr 15, 2018
    #10277
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  18. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    Lopez played a whole season for us very well by the way and "may" stay on a good deal. We got Kuzma. It wasn't guaranteed at all for reasons laid out numerous times already whether you want to continue to believe otherwise or not and give me Josh Hart as a rookie who had to come back from injuries several times over 3rd year D. Russell for this team 10 times out of 10 already. He's a collegiate champion and a winner and plays tremendous defense already over what Russell is capable of. And has a multi-faceted offense, can finish and rebounds consistently. He's capable of being a Fisher like starter for us "if needed" following KCP leaving. You read what Magic just said about him .... what most of us see.
     
    LTLakerFan, Apr 15, 2018
    #10278
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  19. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

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    lol, magic says a lot of things, as do hopeful fans. for a good example, read this forum's thoughts on russell prior to and after the trade in question.
     
    abeer3, Apr 16, 2018
    #10279
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  20. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

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    LOL yourself with your minority position on this if you want to LOL.

    To be more specific on your minority position still after the whole season has played out well with having Lopez here and playing much better than Mozgov and potentially staying here on a friendly deal for next year.

    Your willingness to have gambled that the Nets didn't decide to grab Kuzma themselves as they had him in as well or San Antonio with their well known hots for him with some maneuver to move up.

    And Hart who at the very least has over DLO at the 2 spot true 3 and D capability minus the 3 seasons and counting lazy turnovers, with also a very promising outside 3 pt game, stronger finishing and a far greater maturity and winning mentality. Tell me which stat of Russell's has you so torn up he's gone vs Hart? Hart outshoots him even so far in his first year.

    https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hartjo01.html

    https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/russeda01.html

    Not to mention you have never laid out your plan should LBJ and PG both want to come following this season just how we were supposed to move BOTH Mozgov and Deng under the gun when the whole league would want NO part of helping facilitate on that.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2018
    LTLakerFan, Apr 16, 2018
    #10280
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