Lakers insider sheds light on Rob Pelinka's challenges in trading D'Angelo Russell
After the Lakers' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, coach JJ Redick explained why he benched D'Angelo Russell. While Russell has averaged 30.0 minutes per game this season and 32.7mpg last season, he played just 22 minutes against Memphis.
As Redick told media members after the game, Russell didn't have the attention to detail he wanted and didn't show enough "compete." After one fan pointed out that Redick criticizing Russell could make it harder for Los Angeles to trade him, LA insider Anthony Irwin spoke about the team's struggles.
As he wrote in a post on X, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers haven't found a deal they're comfortable with because they value Russell as a regular-season player.
Even if his postseason numbers haven't been nearly as impressive as his regular season numbers, it sounds like LA knows Russell is a valuable player. Because of that, they aren't selling when it comes to Russell, and seem more focused on waiting to see if a better deal materializes close to the trade deadline.
"Eh, no one trading for D’lo is expecting too much of the player. That’s why the Lakers (who do value him as a regular season player) haven’t found a deal they’re comfortable with."
"It wasn't a punishment," - JJ Redick opens up on decision to bench D'Angelo Russell
As JJ Redick told media members following Wednesday night's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, he and his coaching staff have spoken with D'Angelo Russell about his defensive effort. After a missed rotation resulted in an easy bucket for the Grizzlies, Redick subbed Russell out after just 21 minutes.
He then sat the remainder of the game, drawing the attention of fans and media members alike who wondered if Redick was trying to send the guard a message. As he told media members after the game, his decision wasn't a punishment, it was simply done to put LA in the best possible position to win:
“At times he’s been really good with that stuff, other times it’s just reverting to certain habits. It wasn’t like a punishment, I just felt like for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take."
Despite his decision to bench D'Angelo Russell, LA ended up losing the game 131-114, with the team shooting just 31.3% from downtown compared to Memphis' 50.0% 3-point percentage.
The team will be back in action on Friday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers as they look to snap a two-game skid that's seen them fall to 4-4. With plenty of talk surrounding Redick breaking up the D'Angelo Russell-Austin Reaves backcourt, it will be interesting to see the coach's rotations in Friday's game.