The LA Lakers set the flag of the backcourt.카지노
According to ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnalowski, the Lakers are hoping to extend the contract with D’Angelo Russell (guard, 191cm, 91kg).
The Lakers acquired Russell ahead of the trade deadline this season. Through a multi-party deal, he embraced Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jared Vanderbilt. Although he was given the right to pick (protection) in the first round, he strengthened his power to the fullest by arranging the contract of Russell Westbrook.
The Lakers aimed to strengthen their guard with the disposal of Westbrook during this season. In the end, he brought in Russell and successfully secured a ball handler. However, Russell’s contract expires at the end of this season. It’s clear that the Lakers won’t want to leave after the season since they got him. Therefore, it is natural to want an extension of the contract, and negotiations are expected to begin soon.
He has appeared in 56 games this season. He posted 17.8 points (.465 .387 .853), 3.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.9 minutes per game. After the trade, he appeared in two games for the Lakers. He is averaging 15.5 points (.464 .273 .667), 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 31.5 minutes. His average has dropped slightly with the Lakers, but he’s been performing well enough as his strength has improved.
The key is expected to be the terms of the contract. It is expected to be adjusted over a period of 3 to 4 years, and $30 million per year is expected to be the standard. As long as the Lakers brought Russell, it is expected that they will hold on to it even if it exceeds $30 million per year, but depending on the size of the contract, there may be room for reinforcement in the future. Therefore, it is important on what terms Russell’s contract will be agreed upon.
From Russell’s point of view, it seems that he wants to exceed the size of the previous contract. He signed a four-year, $117.32 million contract with the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2019. After failing to sign an extension prior to the expiry of his rookie contract, he transferred to Golden State. Instead, he switched jerseys with Kevin Durant (Phoenix) via a sign & trade.
Considering that Russell was awarded a $29 million per year contract in a previous deal, the $30 million per year deal is likely to be a watershed in the negotiations. If the Lakers catch Russell at $30 million per year, the total salary confirmed for the upcoming 2023-2024 season will be closer to $160 million. In other words, he is bound to find it difficult to bring in another player from the outside.
The Lakers have a strong sense of power that their contract expires at the end of this season. Besides Russell, I also hope to work with Rui Hachimura, who I brought along during the season. In a situation where it is already decided to break through the luxury tax line next season, the bigger the contract with Russell, the bigger the contract with Hachimura, as well as the recruitment of other players, could be disrupted. The burden of power maintenance will increase in the future.
Nevertheless, the Lakers are expected to be able to maintain their power as they have sufficient capital. The part that lowered the burden while organizing Westbrook this time cannot be overlooked. However, with the one-two punch already taking up a large portion, the growing contract size of Russell will inevitably make financial management difficult in the future. The Lakers are expected to struggle with this advantage.