What are D'Angelo Russell's contract details with LA Lakers? Salary, duration, and more
D'Angelo Russell has played great since rejoining the LA Lakers and wants to remain the LA Lakers' point guard going forward, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, via Silver Screen & Roll:
"D'Angelo Russell very much wanted a second chance in LA with the Lakers and you’ve seen the impact he made coming back against Toronto the other night, playing great in a win, and again tonight. He wants to be the point guard of the future for this organization. He’ll be a free agent this summer."
Russell, who was drafted second overall by the Lakers back in the 2015 NBA Draft, is under contract through the remainder of the 2022-2023 season. The one-time All-Star is in the final year of a four-year, $117.3 million contract signed in 2019.
The Lakers re-acquired the one-time All-Star at the trade deadline in a three-team trade that also brought Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to the organization, while sending out Russell Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damian Jones.
While Russell is on an expiring contract, his impact has been evident from the moment they joined the roster. The Lakers will likely look to extend Russell, particularly if he continues his strong play when James returns to the lineup.
How has D'Angelo Russell performed in his return to the LA Lakers?
D'Angelo Russell's second stint as a member of the LA Lakers has gotten off to a tremendous start. While the team is 9-4 since the trade deadline, Russell battled an injury that allowed him to suit up in just seven of those games. The Lakers are 5-2 with him in the lineup, however.
The one-time All-Star has averaged 18.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field, 44.4% from 3-point range and 85.7% from the free-throw line. Excluding a game in which he left after just eight minutes, Russell has averaged 21.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field, 45.5% from the 3-point range and 85.7% from the free-throw line.
While Russell and the rest of the new pieces will need to build chemistry with LeBron James, who is currently injured, they have done a great job of helping Anthony Davis keep the team afloat in his absence. The Lakers have climbed five spots in the Western Conference standings since the trade deadline.