Lakers Need D'Angelo Russell Trade to Build Contending Roster Amid NBA Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to gain traction at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season.

One rather obvious (and overdue) move could help make that happen, and the Lakers might know it already.

Through the first few weeks of this campaign, D'Angelo Russell has moved out of the starting lineup and, according to a Jake Fischer report for B/R, onto "the [trade] block," where he is "available as outgoing salary for the Lakers."

Truth be told, this report might actually serve more as a reminder of Russell's availability. He's hardly a fresh face on the trade market.

Perhaps there was some internal belief—or at least hope—that a fresh start with new coach JJ Redick would help bring out Russell's best. That obviously hasn't happened. Russell's shooting has cratered (40.7 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from three), and his role has been accordingly reduced. Beyond the demotion to the second team, Russell's 20.3 usage percentage is the lowest of his career (by a not insignificant margin), per Basketball-Reference.

It might be tempting for some to look toward the calendar and wonder whether it's too soon to say this can't work. Russell, to his credit, has taken the role change in stride and played well as a quick-strike substitute during his two games as a reserve so far (both double-digit Lakers wins, by the way).

However, that loses sight of a couple key things.

First, the Purple and Gold have seen this pattern before. In each of the past two postseasons, the Lakers have watched Russell go frigid and see his opportunities sliced. When they've needed to win the most, they've often concluded their best hope of doing so involves going to Russell less.

Second, even if Russell finds a rhythm in his new role, Los Angeles will have to weigh whether its important enough to justify the cost. Russell's $18.7 million salary is third-highest on the team, per Spotrac. Save for Hall of Famer Manu Ginóbili, it's hard to think of many offensive-minded sixth men worth that kind of coin.

Saying that, the Lakers have a chance to convert Russell's contract into something that helps better balance the roster.

That's a big salary number to make the money work on a lot of different deals. So, no matter if L.A. aims for a third star or seeks out an impact support player (someone to help Anthony Davis inside, perhaps), Russell's contract can help grease the gears of a substantial swap.

His trade value might be minimal on its own, but pair that contract with some combination of trade assets (future draft picks, young players like Jalen Hood-Schifino or Maxwell Lewis), and the budget greatly increases. If the Lakers want to take an even bigger swing, they could drop Rui Hachimura or even Austin Reaves into their offer.

L.A. might only have one crack at a big trade, but that's still one chance to find a difference-maker. And it's hard to argue this club doesn't need one to muscle its way into the championship race.

The Lakers are 6-4 on the season and slotted an underwhelming 16th in net efficiency (minus-0.5 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com). Nothing about this team appears ready to contend, save for the still intact star pairing of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which already delivered one title to this franchise.

The urgency to act while James, who turns 40 next month, and Davis, who will be 32 in March, are potentially able to lead a club to contention is at an all-time high. James' retirement can't be too far off into the future, so it might literally be now or never for these Lakers.

Their next move is obvious, and they've seemingly conceded as much. If they want any shot of joining the championship chase, they need to sniff out a Russell trade.