CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) โ Yes, Los Angeles Lakers veteran point guard DโAngelo Russell is well aware that heโs been the subject of rampant trade rumors. No, he doesnโt care. Itโs not that Russell doesnโt want to be with the Lakers, itโs just that he refuses to spend much time worrying about it. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday afternoon, just a few hours before Los Angeles hosts the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Russell said he knows the way his contract is structured makes him a strong trade candidate, but that he can’t, and won’t, worry about it.
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) โ Yes, Los Angeles Lakers veteran point guard DโAngelo Russell is aware that heโs been the subject of rampant trade rumors.
No, he doesnโt care.
Itโs not that Russell doesnโt want to be with the Lakers, itโs just that he refuses to spend much time worrying about things that are out of his control.
โMy approach is just a little different,” Russell said after scoring a team-high 28 points in theย Lakers’ 124-118 win over the Charlotte Hornetsย on Monday night. “I really just genuinely, humbly donโt care because I know I can’t control it for one, and two, I just won’t allow my mind to go there. Focus on basketball and not comments and whatโs trending on social media.โ
He signed a $36 million, two-year contract with Los Angeles in 2023 that includes player option worth $18.6 million next season, per Spotrac. When he signed that deal, he reportedly waived the no-trade clause.
โI canโt control that my contract makes sense to be traded,” Russell said. “So I mean, I just play. I canโt control that. Once again, I donโt care at all.โ
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday afternoon, just a few hours before the Lakers host the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in their next game.
The 27-year-old Russell knows a deal is possible, if not inevitable.
His approach over the next 48 hours is simple: โShow up and work,โ he said.
โObviously, Iโve been here before, I played for the Lakers before so I know what the requirements are to be successful here are,โ said Russell, who was dealt by the Lakers to the Brooklyn Nets following his second season in the league in 2017. โIf you are success here, you will be a part of the future, if not you will get traded.โ
Russell’s numbers this year are nearly identical to last season, averaging 17.4 points and 6.2 assists while shooting 41.6% from 3-point range after a slow start.
But since reentering the starting lineup on Jan. 13, Russell was averaging 23.7 points and 6.6 assists and is shooting 47.1% on 3s before the Charlotte game.
He has averaged 17.7 points and shot 36.6% from 3-point distance for his career.
