D’Angelo Russell was the second-overall pick for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2015 NBA draft. He made an immediate impact, starting 48-of-80 games while averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.2 steals.
He has since bounced around more than a ball in a toddler playground. Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017, then to the Golden State Warriors two seasons later. After one season with the Warriors, Russell was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He then made his way back to the Lakers three seasons later before getting traded one last time back to the Nets.
Russell is once again on the move, but this time via free-agency instead of a trade. Russell has agreed with the Mavericks on a two-year, $13 million deal, per ESPNs Shams Charania.
With Kyrie Irving recovering from a torn ACL, Russell will likely handle the starting point guard duties with Brandon Williams and Spencer Dinwiddie backing him up.
Since his days at Ohio State, Russell has always been known as an adept passer. Over 10 seasons, he’s averaged 5.7 assists per game and had two seasons with at least seven assists. Russell can also get buckets, as he’s averaged double-digit points in every NBA season.
The efficiency is the issue, though, as he’s a career 42% shooter from the field and 36% from downtown. In addition, he doesn’t possess the foot speed to turn the corner on defenders.
The main bugaboo for Russell has been the defense. He’s a liability on that end.
But that wart will be greatly powdered over with Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II behind him. That trio is agile, long and will be a menace for opposing offenses.
