For the second time in his profession, the Lakers are trading D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Lakers agreed to a trade with the Nets on Sunday that might send Russell, together with second-year winger Maxwell Lewis, to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
The Lakers may even send the Nets three of their very own second-round draft picks (2027, 2030 and 2031) as a part of the trade. which was first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
“We would like to thank D'Angelo for his second stint with us, during which we celebrated some great moments and successes on the field together,” general manager Rob Pelinka said in an announcement. “We wish him and Maxwell Lewis all the best in their future endeavors with the Brooklyn Nets.
“With this trade, we are excited to add the physicality, toughness and elite shooting that Dorian Finney-Smith will bring to our core.” We also highly value the play of Shake Milton. We are happy that our fans are bringing these two players onto the pitch.”
The 6-foot-2 Finney-Smith is a player the Lakers (18-13) have coveted for a while. His name is an element of trade rumors about his recent team dating back to last season.
The nine-year NBA veteran averaged 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 games with the Nets this season.
Finney-Smith, 31, is shooting a career-best 43.5% from 3-point range (5.4 attempts), including a career-best 43.3% on catch-and-shoot attempts, which ranks 14th. -The best value among the many 64 NBA players is a median of no less than 4 catch-and-shoot three-pointers per game.
After battling his shot early in his profession with the Dallas Mavericks as an undrafted player out of Florida in 2016, Finney-Smith has developed a status as a formidable 3-and-D forward.
Since the 2019-20 season, he’s shooting 37.5% from 3-point range (five attempts per game), including 37.9% on catch-and-shoot threes (633 for 1,668).
The Memphis Grizzlies also reportedly desired to trade Finney-Smith. HoopsHype NBA Inside Michael Scotto reported that the Grizzlies offered the Nets a top-15 protected 2025 first-round pick, Luke Kennard and John Konchar, for Finney-Smith and second-round draft picks, however the Nets traded Finney-Smith to the Lakers.
First-year Lakers coach JJ Redick, who played within the NBA for 15 seasons (2006-21), was previously teammates with Milton with the Philadelphia 76ers (2017-19) and Finney-Smith (2021).
Redick expressed his admiration for Finney-Smith during his previous profession as a podcaster/broadcaster, tweeting on May 8, 2022, “How can you not love?” [Finney-Smith]” and gave high praise in his podcast “The Old Man And The Three”.
“The one guy I just have to yell at because I love watching him play and I've been playing against him for a few years now and he does so many things that just don't show up in a box score and “This is Dorian Finney.” -Smith,” Redick said on the time. “Or as he is affectionately called, Doe-Doe. Doe-Doe is just a great player. He is a player who could fit on any team in the NBA. He is incredibly valuable, a great defender, hardworking and makes all the plays.”
Finney-Smith could add elements of toughness and defensive versatility which have been missing from the Lakers' frontcourt, especially given Jarred Vanderbilt's continued absence attributable to offseason surgery on each feet.
The Lakers announced in early December that Vanderbilt was targeting a return in early January after experiencing swelling in his left knee during his return to play.
The team's long-term starting lineup may very well be something to control given the acquisition of Finney-Smith, who has began 350 of 365 regular-season games (and all 35 playoff games) since becoming a full-time starter in 2019–20 – as his 3-point shooting accuracy began to extend.
Max Christie has elevated his game since being named the fifth starter alongside Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In his last eight games as a starter, he averaged 11 points (46.4% shooting, 45.2% from behind the arc), three rebounds and 1.3 steals. The Lakers are 4-1 within the five games wherein they’ve began Reaves, Christie, Hachimura, James and Davis together.
A couple of weeks ago, Redick said Hachimura “has been our most consistent player, just in terms of what we asked him to do and then what he did.”
Sunday's trade ends a tumultuous saga for the 28-year-old Russell, the No. 2 pick within the 2015 draft who the Lakers reacquired before the February 2023 trade deadline.
Russell, who has been traded five times within the last 7½ years, had many highlights during his second stint with the Lakers.
He was instrumental in turning things around within the 2022/23 season, resulting in a visit to the Western Conference Finals. Russell had the most effective seasons of his profession in 2023-24, setting the Lakers' single-season record with 226 3-point baskets.
But there have been also low points: his performances within the 2023 Western Conference finals and last yr's playoffs; his subpar defensive play, which led to an imbalance within the starting lineup next to Reaves.
Russell began this season as a starter before moving to the reserve role after eight games within the Lakers' 4-4 start.
He entered Sunday with a career-low 12.4 points in 26.3 minutes, which was his lowest minute average since his third season.
Russell, who has an expiring $18.7 million contract, will return to the Brooklyn franchise that the Lakers traded him to in 2017, with Russell making his only All-Star appearance with the Nets in 2018-19.
With Russell's departure, Gabe Vincent is the one true point guard remaining on the Lakers' roster, although James often takes on the role of initiator of their offense.
Milton, a seven-year NBA veteran, has averaged 8.5 points (45.2% shooting, 36% from 3-point range), 2.5 assists and a pair of.2 rebounds, including 7.4, for his profession Points and a pair of.4 assists in 27 games with the Nets this season. Milton joins his sixth NBA team in lower than two years, including his third move in 11 months.
Lewis, the Lakers' 2023 second-round pick, has played primarily with the organization's affiliate, the South Bay G League, since being drafted.
The trade also brings financial advantages for the Lakers.
Because the Lakers are paying out more in salaries ($20.6 million) than they received ($18 million), they are actually about $3 million below the second apron threshold ($188.9 million). , having previously been only about $400,000 below the edge. Teams above the second frontcourt are severely limited of their ability to sign/trade players.
The Lakers have gained more wiggle room under the second frontcourt in the event that they must receive more salary for this season in a future deal before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Finney-Smith has a $15.4 million player option for the 2025-26 season as a part of the four-year, $55.6 million contract he signed with the Mavericks in February 2022. Milton has a salary of $3 million for next season and $3.3 million for 2026-27, but each seasons are non-guaranteed.
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