Amid trade rumors involving the Lakers guard, D’Angelo Russell, Darvin Ham has shown his support for him.
D’Angelo Russell has improved since his minor injury comeback, and he played a key role in the Lakers’ 127-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks today. After the game, Darvin Ham gave Russell encouragement despite the persistent rumors that he will be traded.
We knew he could help us, so we resigned him. We have faith in him. Everyone seems to be talking about it; I suppose it’s that time of year when trade talks take place. Everyone knows that in this industry, you take advantage of any opportunity to improve. In actuality, we still have what we had last year. There’s a ton of great basketball plays we can play if we focus inward instead of outward. We can win a ton of games with this bunch the way it is set up. He is at the front of that.
Over the last three games, Russell has averaged 27.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. He scored 29 points in tonight’s victory over the Mavs. Russell’s form has significantly improved the team’s ability to finish these games, since they have won two excellent games against Western clubs that are capable of making the playoffs.
Russell was supposed to start all season for the Lakers as their point guard, but following a poor run of play in December—during which he averaged 10.4 points in 13 games—he was benched, saw his role diminish, and kept coming up in trade rumors.
It’s conceivable that the Lakers will preserve Russell and make small trades to strengthen their rotation without adding a great player unless there’s a glaring upgrade available at the deadline. However, the Lakers might overlook what Ham just said and trade Russell for a legitimate third star if someone like Dejounte Murray can be obtained for the appropriate price.
The Lakers’ decision to sign three rotational players—D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves—on mid-range contracts that would make it simple to deal them if necessary was one of the offseason’s saving graces. Moving all three players is difficult, though, because they have all demonstrated usefulness in their respective roles. In the event of a star deal, at least two of these players will be traded, which will leave the rotation with less production.
Due to his inability to establish a spot in the Lakers frontcourt rotation, Hachimura might be the odd man out. The Lakers could have to part with him. If they wanted to target a smaller contract player like Dejounte, Hachimura and Jalen Hood-Schifino combined with an unprotected 2029 selection may be a useful deal.
The Lakers have a lot of alternatives, but moving any of their rotational players would present obstacles that they will need to overcome through other trades or astute signings from the buyout market.
