The D'Angelo Russell Thread

[winforlose]

I thought I made you squirm first saying he wouldn't accept $20 million a year.

Even if you made him squirm I will make him puke with the realization that Dlo went from holding a pair of 2s to four of a kind. He has all the leverage in the world against the FO. We can try a sign and trade next year if he has a good year. He also might be willing to compromise if he wants the insurance that an extension buys him (an injury could cost him a year of prime earnings if it is serious.) All in all I think we need to accept that we must pay him and probably over pay him. To let a super team die over 10-20 mil is beyond silly, it is crazy.

While I agree that it would be stupid to let a super team go to waste. I'm not as quick to automatically assume he has all the power....

1. DLo has to see this as maybe no better a surrounding cast as possible for him to be successful. And if he wouldn't agree to a reasonable deal in an extension...are we so positive that his FA market will be so great...didn't have a strong trade market this offseason?

2. If we didn't keep him...wouldn't we next year still be under cap...not max money...but this would have to be a pretty favorable spot for a PG?

3. And it probably goes without saying for all of us...but are we 100% certain that both Finch & DLo can reconcile & be good after game 6 benching? Should be able to, but it's not automatic in today's nba?

4. While I don't want to train wreck the super team by losing him...I can't extend him & allow him to continue his 4th quarter hero ball ways either...just train wrecking it in a different way? His clutch shooting helps sometimes, but that confidence loses us games as well...when most of us are begging that those should be KAT or Ant shots sometimes?

5. Lastly, if extended...I would go the 3 yrs (which would be 4 then & coincide with Rudy's deal, right)....& can I make it one of those backward deals...where it decreases annually...maybe helps DLo take the paycut more gradually while helping us those last 2 yrs...where everyone's getting paid?

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1. Dlo might not get a better deal in UFA, but that is a massive risk. If he does we are ******. Do you really gamble the entire window to save 10-20? Also, trades require giving up assets. Signing free agents doesn’t. Who knows what teams will make cap room and see Dlo as an opportunity.

2. Not sure, but I doubt we have enough to do anything significant. We would be stuck using the MLE and massively downgrading. Say what you want about Dlo, but he is still a 20+ million dollar PG, and those caliber guys don’t often go for 10.

3. Dlo loves KAT and claims to love the guys. His pride might be hurt, but I doubt his brain is. Leaving over a single benching in a series where he was objectively bad would only make him look petty and weak. Not good for his career prospects. Especially when everyone keeps raving about how much they love Finch.

4. He will follow instructions or get benched. See game 6 of the Memphis series. If anything Finch created credibility and accountability by benching Dlo. Not just with Dlo, with the whole team.

5. Not sure about the backwards deal part, but extending him for 3 years might not make sense. The cap is going to explode with the new tv deals. His money won’t hurt nearly as badly at that point. If Rudy still has anything in the tank and KAT and Ant develop like we are hoping, the last thing we want to do is break up the band. A new contract for Dlo might be even more expensive at that point (relative to the new cap.) A four year deal would protect against that.

[younggunsmn]

Well we are kinda backed up against a wall on making Russell work now.
No cap room next summer, no assets left to trade to replace him.
Barring some Brogdon-like breakout from Moore, we're kinda stuck with him.
Next summer, if he has a decent year, going to be forced to overpay him with so many teams flush with cap room in a league that just gave Tyus Jones 15mil per to backup Ja.
IF he wants to come back.

One thing I'm a little optimistic about is that a Gobert/Russell pick and roll pairing could work.
Gobert does an excellent job creating space for shooters in the pick game and is more of a rim threat than any pick partner DLo has had here. If I were FInch I'd run units where DLO/Rudy and ANT/KAT were paired to maximize the spacing.

[Krapinsky]

D-Lo should flourish this year playing with Gobert. He might lead the league in assists and increase his scoring efficiency at the same time. His defense becomes less of a liability. This is going to work.

[Klomp]

Okay, now that we are in Bizarro World ..brace yourself ..

I am wondering if we should extend D’Angelo Russell?

Yes, this is still shrink behind the keyboard, and I’m not typing while being held at gunpoint. My thinking here is that while everyone focuses on the fit between Rudy and KAT, DLo probably couldn’t have received a better fitting piece, on both ends of the court. Defense is, and will always be, a shortcoming for Russell, but having the multi-Defensive Player of the Year backing him up will help him immensely. But even better, I think a DLo-Gobert pick and roll will shine. Gobert is already great at it with tremendous timing (.718 FG% last year!), and Russell can certainly pass. The pick and roll never ran quite right with he and KAT, since both would prefer to pop - Gobert is a roll threat. And on top of all this, Gobert is great at setting screens.

I predict a really good year for DLo offensively. We don’t need to worry any more about maintaining max cap space next year. I know this is a shock, but do we lock him up now, before his price goes up? Maybe three years, $20 a year?

One big factor at play here is the expected new TV deal. I don't think Russell would want to do a 3-year deal and I'm not sure the team would want to do that long of a deal either with his inconsistencies and a bit of a changing of the guards that will be happening here. But I could see both sides agree to a one-year deal. We've seen a couple of one-year extensions in the past few months here, and I wonder if Russell could be a candidate for one here.

[Dewey]

Okay, now that we are in Bizarro World ..brace yourself ..

I am wondering if we should extend D’Angelo Russell?

Yes, this is still shrink behind the keyboard, and I’m not typing while being held at gunpoint. My thinking here is that while everyone focuses on the fit between Rudy and KAT, DLo probably couldn’t have received a better fitting piece, on both ends of the court. Defense is, and will always be, a shortcoming for Russell, but having the multi-Defensive Player of the Year backing him up will help him immensely. But even better, I think a DLo-Gobert pick and roll will shine. Gobert is already great at it with tremendous timing (.718 FG% last year!), and Russell can certainly pass. The pick and roll never ran quite right with he and KAT, since both would prefer to pop - Gobert is a roll threat. And on top of all this, Gobert is great at setting screens.

I predict a really good year for DLo offensively. We don’t need to worry any more about maintaining max cap space next year. I know this is a shock, but do we lock him up now, before his price goes up? Maybe three years, $20 a year?

One big factor at play here is the expected new TV deal. I don't think Russell would want to do a 3-year deal and I'm not sure the team would want to do that long of a deal either with his inconsistencies and a bit of a changing of the guards that will be happening here. But I could see both sides agree to a one-year deal. We've seen a couple of one-year extensions in the past few months here, and I wonder if Russell could be a candidate for one here.

Offensively, hard to totally cover up DLo’s lack of athleticism… when he gets bodies on him he struggles to separate and finish plays. I do think Gobert will greatly benefit DLo more directly than the others… gonna have to be a wait and see.

[minimus]

Okay, now that we are in Bizarro World ..brace yourself ..

I am wondering if we should extend D’Angelo Russell?

Yes, this is still shrink behind the keyboard, and I’m not typing while being held at gunpoint. My thinking here is that while everyone focuses on the fit between Rudy and KAT, DLo probably couldn’t have received a better fitting piece, on both ends of the court. Defense is, and will always be, a shortcoming for Russell, but having the multi-Defensive Player of the Year backing him up will help him immensely. But even better, I think a DLo-Gobert pick and roll will shine. Gobert is already great at it with tremendous timing (.718 FG% last year!), and Russell can certainly pass. The pick and roll never ran quite right with he and KAT, since both would prefer to pop - Gobert is a roll threat. And on top of all this, Gobert is great at setting screens.

I predict a really good year for DLo offensively. We don’t need to worry any more about maintaining max cap space next year. I know this is a shock, but do we lock him up now, before his price goes up? Maybe three years, $20 a year?

One big factor at play here is the expected new TV deal. I don't think Russell would want to do a 3-year deal and I'm not sure the team would want to do that long of a deal either with his inconsistencies and a bit of a changing of the guards that will be happening here. But I could see both sides agree to a one-year deal. We've seen a couple of one-year extensions in the past few months here, and I wonder if Russell could be a candidate for one here.

Even with cap raise if I were DLo I would strongly consider multi-year deal because of injury risk.

[winforlose]

This is a must read.

https://www.canishoopus.com/2022/7/7/23197681/dangelo-russell-biggest-winner-rudy-gobert-trade-wolves-jazz

[minimus]

In regular season, in 4 games vs MEM DLo averaged 31ppg, 7apg on 56% FG, 46% from 3pt.
In playoff in 6 games vs MEM DLo averaged 12ppg, 6.7apg, 33% FG, 29% from 3pt.

Can anyone explain why?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[Klomp]

In regular season, in 4 games vs MEM DLo averaged 31ppg, 7apg on 56% FG, 46% from 3pt.
In playoff in 6 games vs MEM DLo averaged 12ppg, 6.7apg, 33% FG, 29% from 3pt.

Can anyone explain why?

Dillon Brooks

[Neeva]

In regular season, in 4 games vs MEM DLo averaged 31ppg, 7apg on 56% FG, 46% from 3pt.
In playoff in 6 games vs MEM DLo averaged 12ppg, 6.7apg, 33% FG, 29% from 3pt.

Can anyone explain why?

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Choking.

[fattymcgee]

In regular season, in 4 games vs MEM DLo averaged 31ppg, 7apg on 56% FG, 46% from 3pt.
In playoff in 6 games vs MEM DLo averaged 12ppg, 6.7apg, 33% FG, 29% from 3pt.

Can anyone explain why?

Dillon Brooks

This

[KGdaBom]

In regular season, in 4 games vs MEM DLo averaged 31ppg, 7apg on 56% FG, 46% from 3pt.
In playoff in 6 games vs MEM DLo averaged 12ppg, 6.7apg, 33% FG, 29% from 3pt.

Can anyone explain why?

Dillon Brooks

This

Is Dillon Brooks supposed to be a super special defender?

[winforlose]

Dillon Brooks

This

Is Dillon Brooks supposed to be super special defender?

He is considered their Pat Bev in mind games as well as their best overall defender.

[KGdaBom]

This

Is Dillon Brooks supposed to be super special defender?

He is considered their Pat Bev in mind games as well as their best overall defender.

I don't think I saw his name on any all NBA defensive teams, but yeah he has a reputation as a dirty defender.

[Krapinsky]

I would be on board with resigning him to a contract in the neighborhood of $80-$88M/4 years that descends 8% per year.

[winforlose]

I would be on board with resigning him to a contract in the neighborhood of $80-$88M/4 years that descends 8% per year.

I would be willing to bet Dlo would already be extended at those numbers if he would sign that deal. Dlo probably wants somewhere in the 30 mil per year range, and that was before he got the increased leverage from the Gobert trade.

[KGdaBom]

I would be on board with resigning him to a contract in the neighborhood of $80-$88M/4 years that descends 8% per year.

I would be willing to bet Dlo would already be extended at those numbers if he would sign that deal. Dlo probably wants somewhere in the 30 mil per year range, and that was before he got the increased leverage from the Gobert trade.

He wants the max. He won't get it. The Rolling Stones told us all "You don't always get what you want." If the Wolves are willing to go 4 years $100 million I think that would get it done.

[NebWolvesFan]

I wonder if Russell would consider signing a Pat Bev deal. A one-year extension for what he's currently making - $31 million. Maybe a two-year 62 million contract, but year two is only guaranteed at 4 mill. So in reality he's getting $35 million.

That gives the Wolves a path to keep him another two years if he and Rudy work out, a path to trade him after next season and get some players in return. It also allows them to get him off the books - mostly - before KAT and ANT's huge deals kick in in 24.

I can't imagine Russell getting more than 15-18 million a year if he was a FA, so a four-year deal would be roughly 4 yr-70 million at best. If he takes a short deal with the Wolves, he would only need to sign a deal worth 3 years-$35 million when he leaves Minnesota to not lose money.

[KGdaBom]

I wonder if Russell would consider signing a Pat Bev deal. A one-year extension for what he's currently making - $31 million. Maybe a two-year 62 million contract, but year two is only guaranteed at 4 mill. So in reality he's getting $35 million.

That gives the Wolves a path to keep him another two years if he and Rudy work out, a path to trade him after next season and get some players in return. It also allows them to get him off the books - mostly - before KAT and ANT's huge deals kick in in 24.

I can't imagine Russell getting more than 15-18 million a year if he was a FA, so a four-year deal would be roughly 4 yr-70 million at best. If he takes a short deal with the Wolves, he would only need to sign a deal worth 3 years-$35 million when he leaves Minnesota to not lose money.

I can't imagine him getting less than $20 million a year. Tyus Jones just signed for 15.

[wolves_89]

I wonder if Russell would consider signing a Pat Bev deal. A one-year extension for what he's currently making - $31 million. Maybe a two-year 62 million contract, but year two is only guaranteed at 4 mill. So in reality he's getting $35 million.

That gives the Wolves a path to keep him another two years if he and Rudy work out, a path to trade him after next season and get some players in return. It also allows them to get him off the books - mostly - before KAT and ANT's huge deals kick in in 24.

I can't imagine Russell getting more than 15-18 million a year if he was a FA, so a four-year deal would be roughly 4 yr-70 million at best. If he takes a short deal with the Wolves, he would only need to sign a deal worth 3 years-$35 million when he leaves Minnesota to not lose money.

I can't imagine him getting less than $20 million a year. Tyus Jones just signed for 15.

I've always thought the John Collins contract was a good benchmark for DLO. An extension for around $100M/4 years seems about right. For a two year extension that includes a team option on the second year (with a small guaranteed amount), I'd guess a $60M/2 years would be in the ballpark.