Should the Lakers Have Kept D'Angelo Russell?

Liam_Gallagher · Post #1 » by **Liam_Gallagher** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:30 pm

While they did acquire Finney-Smith for Russell, some believe that having a scoring guard off the bench would have benefitted them more. Although Finney-Smith is a good defender, you could argue that it allowed them to play small ball a little too much and rely on it throughout the playoffs. If they kept Russell they would have been forced to play a more traditional lineup, which they didn't do.

They also could have kept three second rounders which they would have used in a trade going forward.

What do you think?

hauntedcomputer · Post #2 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:36 pm

Just when we thought there were no more ridiculous Lakers threads to clog the boards

druggas · Post #3 » by **druggas** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:40 pm

hauntedcomputer wrote:Just when we thought there were no more ridiculous Lakers threads to clog the boards

Exactly.

KGDirkTD_Fan · Post #4 » by **KGDirkTD_Fan** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:43 pm

If I remember he still was problematic because he was so spotty of a shooter. He had games where he hits over 5 3pt fgs and games where he's just doing cardio and was a cone on defense. Surprisingly Reaves was pretty bad against the Wolves on the offensive side but he at least was pretty ok on perimeter defense in comparison.

It would be just easier if Reaves and Rui can hit the open shots than look for someone else, it would make a big difference.

chilluminati · Post #5 » by **chilluminati** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:44 pm

How does JJ do his rotations? If he staggers between Luka, AR, Bron, and Vincent, isn't that enough ball handlers for 48 minutes? Or does he play all of his playmakers together at once and do squad subs?

The issue would still be big man depth. In my eyes, there are plenty of competent handlers on that squad, but I'm not very familiar with the JJ Lakers.

FreeBird23 · Post #6 » by **FreeBird23** » Sat May 3, 2025 6:46 pm

Can he play center ?

danfantastk32 · Post #7 » by **danfantastk32** » Sun May 4, 2025 6:09 pm

DLo was total garbage. Glad he's gone. But that expiring contract shoulda had some value. We got completely fleeced trading his contract, AND THREE second rounders for Finney-Smith....who I think is totally sub-par.

So glad DLo is gone.....really unhappy with the move we made

stan francisco · Post #8 » by **stan francisco** » Sun May 4, 2025 8:07 pm

OP, please watch defense. Please. I beg you.

It’s not just about shooting and offense and dribbling skills. None of that wins rings unless there’s defense.

D Lo brings the worst defense out of any starting NBA PG in about the last 50 years.

Therefore not worth more than half of his paycheck, therefore detrimental to any team build, therefore he’s a perpetual expiring contract who will never bring rings.

Can we move on, please? Please, watch both ends.

Post #9 » by **Kilroy** » Wed May 7, 2025 3:26 am

The answer to this question is always no.

Landsberger · Post #10 » by **Landsberger** » Wed May 7, 2025 4:42 am

Kilroy wrote:The answer to this question is always no.

Yeah... .that one shook me loose and back to posting too...

Always no.

dAdo dA dEvil · Post #11 » by **dAdo dA dEvil** » Thu May 8, 2025 12:44 am

No. But I think we could have gotten more from the trade because of his expiring contract.

SlimShady83 · Post #12 » by **SlimShady83** » Fri May 9, 2025 8:14 pm

dAdo dA dEvil wrote:No. But I think we could have gotten more from the trade because of his expiring contract.

If this were true, I'd like that too, but probem was no other team wanted him. I like DFS can actually play defense :nod:

TylersLakers · Post #13 » by **TylersLakers** » Sat May 10, 2025 6:33 pm

Hell no. DFS is a winning player. D’Lo isn’t.