Lakers Trade Rumors: D'Angelo Russell 'Far Less Likely' to Leave LA Before Deadline

D'Angelo Russell's recent hot streak may have made himself too valuable for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade ahead of Thursday's deadline.

On the Woj Pod (starts at 15:15 mark), ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said a Russell trade looks "far less likely" to happen now than it did previously:

"D'Angelo Russell, playing the way he's played over the last several weeks, I think has changed the view of it in LA, that I'm not saying it's impossible for them to trade D'Angelo Russell, I think it is far less likely and the idea anymore that you have to incentivize a D'Angelo Russell deal, incentivize putting him in a deal because he's got that guaranteed money next year,, I don't think that's how the Lakers are looking to incentivize moving on from D'Angelo Russell."

Since the Lakers have limited draft assets to move, Russell's name has been a popular one if they are going to make a significant trade.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported on Tuesday the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors or Atlanta Hawks are potential landing spots for Russell if a trade happens.

The Hawks might be a long shot because the Hawks don't have interest in taking back Russell and his contract, which includes an $18.7 million player option for 2024-25, if they make a deal with the Lakers involving Dejounte Murray.

"I don't care. At all," Russell said when he was asked about the trade speculation after Monday's win over the Charlotte Hornets (h/t McMenamin). "Show up to work. That's it."

The Lakers have been playing better recently. They wrapped up their six-game road trip with three consecutive wins over the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Hornets.

Three-point shooting is the biggest area of need for the Lakers ahead of the trade deadline. They rank last in the NBA in three-point attempts per game (30.7) and 28th in three-pointers made per game (11.3).

Russell is averaging 22.2 points on 44.9 percent three-point shooting and 6.4 assists per game in 16 appearances since Jan. 7. He has scored at least 20 points nine times during this stretch. He had seven such scoring games in his first 32 appearances of the season.

The Lakers' three-game winning streak has moved them two games over .500 (27-25) for the first time since they were 17-15 on Dec. 28. They are ninth in the Western Conference standings, 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the No. 8 spot.