The Nets are 8-8 in D’Angelo Russell games, including six of the last seven. Does the 28-year-old still have a role going forward?
The first time around for D’Angelo Russell — from when he was traded for franchise icon Brook Lopez on Draft Night 2017 through the end of the magical 2018-19 season and the “Clean Sweep” — was the 28-year-old’s best time and he acknowledges it.
All dressed in coogi, black and white, he was the guy. Then, the team he had helped speed on its way signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sent him off to Golden State in a jerry-built sign-and-trade for KD. He later wound up in Minnesota then back to L.A. which had drafted him before finally being returned to Brooklyn … the return of the prodigal.
Now, he’s back and he’s grateful to be. He has praised Jordi Fernandez as a “genius” and made it clear he wants to stay.
“I wasn’t familiar with a lot of guys,” he said last week. “I wasn’t familiar with the coaching staff, for them to welcome me with open arms and make it comfortable for me right away, and watch the genius Jordi is.
“Watching him prepare for these games, not knowing who’s going to play, not knowing who’s gonna start, or who can finish, who can’t play, minute restrictions, et cetera. For him to still find a way to get straight wins and keep everybody’s energy and spirit high. I think the future’s bright here.”
So bright he thinks that the Nets have a chance to making the play-in which was definitely not the plan at the beginning of the season nor before he and Maxwell Lewis were traded for Dorian Finney-Smith and three second rounders.
“Last time it just … kind of happened,” Russell said of his first tenure here. “So I think if it’s gonna happen, it will. We definitely have the chance. We definitely have a nice group, definitely have all the coaches and everything to give it that.
“So we’ll keep preparing like that’s in the plans. But as far as getting ahead of myself and trying to do things out of the ordinary, that’s not really … it’s kind of out of my control, I would say. So [we’ve] just got to go one game at a time, one win at a time.”
A lot of fans don’t want to hear that. They would’ve preferred the Nets to move him at the deadline (although that would have been difficult with the new CBA) or outright release him to lose more games, add more ping pong balls and pick a transformative player in the June draft. (“Transformative” by the way is how Nets officials described him back in 2017.)
Now, Brian Lewis and Steve Lichtenstein wonder what’s next for D’Lo in the confusing future of the Brooklyn Nets. Still only 28 and without a history of serious injury, is there room for him going forward, maybe a short term deal? When he arrived, that not the plan as Lewis writes:
Realistically speaking, the Nets traded Dorian Finney-Smith for Russell (and Maxwell Lewis) not so that the point guard could stabilize their offense but because 1) he was an expiring contract that fit their needs, and more importantly, 2) he came with three second-round draft picks attached.
But with Ben Simmons now on the left coast with the Clippers, it’s Russell and Trendon Watford, who’s more position-less than point, two-way Reece Beekman and maybe, if the moving pieces all land just right, Killian Hayes, now toiling (but at a high level) out on Long Island. At the very least, he’s been a stabilizing force.
“[Russell has provided] point guard leadership, veteran, an IQ, understand the flow of the game, what we want to do,” Cam Johnson said. “As he gets comfortable, we just become a better team. He’s a talented, talented player. And he brings a whole other dimension to our team. And you know, it’s been a big help for sure.”
The numbers are in fact improving, as Lewis noted.
Russell’s 39.9 percent assist rate (the percentage of his teammates’ baskets he set up) since coming to Brooklyn is on pace for the best of his career. But his 25.3 percent mark with the Lakers before the trade was his worst since his rookie campaign.
More importantly, the Nets are 8-8 in games Russell has played for Brooklyn and have won six of their last seven as they prepare to face the 44-10 Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night at Barclays, their first game in a week. Stabilization includes leadership as well and indeed, D’Lo has a reputation as a leader as well as an NBA vagabond.
Just this week, the Lakers’ Dalton Knecht, he of the failed Mark Williams trade, said that throughout the ups and downs of the past week, he’s relied on the career advice Russell provided him.
“D-Lo, he gave me the best advice,” said the rook. “Right after a game, just move on. Don’t care about how you did. Just move on because you got the next game coming towards you. No matter how high or how low that game was, you got to move on and be ready to play the next one and get better.”
Is a return likely? Steve Lichtenstein writes that it’s simply not practical at least under current circumstances.
But is that in Brooklyn’s interest? Russell will have an approximately $28 million cap hold this offseason, which might be useful if Marks has another sign-and-trade up his sleeve for the summer. Otherwise, it’s hard to envision that the Nets would bring him back (I’m not sure a Russell/Cam Thomas backcourt will jive with Head Coach Jordi Fernandez’s defensive mandates), in which case that cap hold is an obstacle to their vision for the near future.
Lichtenstein even suggests that buying out Russell before March 1 so he could join a contender might be a “clarifying statement” for fans wondering if the tank lives.
That seems highly unlikely but the Nets are still shuffling things around at the bottom of the roster as Thursday’s game approaches. As Lewis reports that the Nets won’t be able to suit up Tyrese Martin in Brooklyn colors Thursday unless he signs a standard deal before then. In short, his two-way deal requires it.
All that, Russell seems happy with the Nets and the Nets seem happy with Russell. Both sides seem to accept that it is what it is.
“So for me to be able to do that for a short bit of time throughout the flow of the game, you see everybody pitching in as a collective group. That’s an easier way to make a living than the other way. So I’m all for it.”
- What D’Angelo Russell’s trip around the NBA taught him about embracing his new role with the Nets ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
- DLo’s Future & Other Nets Notes – Steve Lichtenstein – Steve’s Newsletter