The Los Angeles Lakers were in the rumor mill for months before the 2024 NBA trade deadline. In the end, Rob Pelinka chose not to make any trades for his team but Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus revealed how close he was to making a big shake-up in the backcourt.
“Multiple sources say that before trading for Dennis Schroder, the Brooklyn Nets were in talks with the Lakers for Russell (with L.A. getting Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks),” wrote Pincus. “That negotiation died between the Lakers and Hawks, but the Nets still need a starting-caliber guard.”
Back in February, the Lakers were still hopeful about a potential lengthy playoff run and D’Angelo Russell was starting to recover his value after a rough start to the season. At the time, it was thought that trading Russell for a younger and more well-rounded point guard would give them the push they needed to avoid the play-in tournament and make a push for the title.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, the trade never came to fruition and they came out of the trade deadline completely empty-handed. Russell, who averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game, had his moments down the stretch of the season but he was unreliable when it mattered most. In five games against the Nuggets, Russell averaged just 14.2 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds. He had no answer as Jamal Murray delivered greatness time and time again for the Nuggets.
As a younger, and more efficient ball handler, Dejounte Murray might not have changed much for the Lakers but he surely would have made life easier for LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He can do it all on the floor, including on the defensive end where he was once known as one of the best two-way guards in the game.
Los Angeles Lakers Are On The Hunt For A Point Guard
The Lakers may have messed up by not taking action and getting Murray while they had the chance but they don’t intend to make that mistake again. This summer, as several contracts come off the books, the Lakers will be positioned to make some moves and all the intel suggests that they have big ambitions.
Now that LeBron James is likely to return, the Lakers can shift their focus entirely on getting more help. Unlike last year’s strategy of investing in role players, GM Rob Pelinka aims to add star power. From Chris Paul to Darius Garland to Trae Young, the Lakers are prepared to make a serious run for a star point guard this summer and might have enough to pull it off.
As for D’Angelo Russell, nobody knows how this path ends for him but not everyone is surprised that he’s back on the trade block. With one year left on his deal, Russell will no doubt be available for trades in the coming offseason and it makes you wonder why they didn’t try harder to trade him earlier when they had the chance.
In a pivotal off-season for the Lakers, even the smallest mistake risks upsetting the entire operation. They need to be smart and patient with their decisions but cannot afford to be complacent. For better or worse, the Lakers are bound to mix up the roster this summer, just like they mixed up the sidelines with a new head coach. And while Dejounte Murray may not solve all of their problems, his potential impact on the team may be enough to bring the Lakers back to the negotiation table.
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