Lakers News: LA Has Talked About Possible D'Angelo Russell Extension Ahead Of Free Agency
With NBA free agency kicking off on July 1st, the clock is ticking for teams and players to come to a consensus on their respective deals. But for Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell, the clock is against his time.
For the Lakers, they face a similar situation as they take on the mission find their lead ball handler for the season, a problem they've faced for the last four offseasons.
Do the Purple and Gold look around the Association for a new point guard? Or do they work to re-sign their own former No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
In previous years, the Lakers had to pull a ton of strings in order to sign a point guard that compliments All-NBA small forward LeBron James' play style.
These searches resulted in the signings of Rajon Rondo, Dennis Schröder, and a failed attempt at a homecoming for Russel Westbrook that eventually led to the reunion of D'Angelo Russell.
According to The Athletic's Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha, the Lakers are in control of D-Lo's contract situation.
Russell's inconsistency in this year's playoffs and lack of interest in him across the league gives the Lakers some leeway to sign him to a two-year contract that'll pay him around a comfortable amount.
"[According] to multiple team sources not authorized to speak publicly, is signing Russell to a front-loaded two-year deal – either with an option in the second year or a straight two-year contract – that both gives him the salary he wants and keeps him on the same timeline as James (player option in 2024) and Davis (has an early termination option in 2024 and is eligible for a contract extension in August)," Buha writes.
The main priority for the Lakers this offseason is to re-sign Reaves and Hachimura to the best valued price possible. After that, the next question is who can they secure at Point Guard at an affordable price?
If this strategy is to work out, I believe that D'Angelo Russell can continue to develop with the Lakers and improve his game, and just maybe while he gets LA the results that's needed, he can get the bag that he wants from anywhere else.
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