NBA Rumors: D'Angelo Russell Believed to Want New Nets Contract in 2025 Free Agency

As the Brooklyn Nets look ahead to what could be an important summer for the rebuilding franchise, D'Angelo Russell hopes to remain with the club beyond this season.

Per Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Russell is "believed to have told those around him" he hopes to remain with the Nets in free agency.

Russell was acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 29 as part of the Dorian Finney-Smith trade. His inclusion in the deal was primarily for salary-matching since he's playing on an $18.7 million expiring contract.

The Nets' focus when the offseason begins will be on the lottery. Their 21-40 record is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the sixth-worst in the NBA. They could have as many as three first-round picks this year.

Every team at the bottom of the standings is dreaming of the No. 1 pick and opportunity to potentially select Cooper Flagg. The Nets odds to land that pick are currently at 8.3 percent, but a lot of things can change over the final five weeks of the regular season.

Russell's standing in Brooklyn could be safe because there's not an obvious replacement at point guard for the organization. Killian Hayes had been playing on a 10-day contract, but the team elected not to give him a second 10-day deal.

The numbers for Russell on the Nets leave something to be desired. He's averaging 13.7 points on 38.0 percent shooting and 5.7 assists per game in 18 appearances.

Given how many holes there on the Nets roster right now and where they are in the rebuilding process, it wouldn't be a bad idea to bring Russell back if they can get him on a team-friendly deal for one or two years.

Russell is only 29 and is a 36.6 percent shooter from three-point range, so there's an expectation his offensive production will improve over time.