The Los Angeles Lakers have a number of key players who are about to become free agents, and there seems to be a good chance that at least one of them will not be back next season.
Guards D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Schroder, as well as forwards Rui Hachimura and Troy Brown Jr. will be free agents once the new league year begins in a few weeks. While keeping Reaves and Hachimura are a big priority for Los Angeles, Russell could be a different story.
The 27-year-old guard played poorly in the Western Conference finals, and some feel the team wants to part ways with him. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports wrote that the Lakers are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities with him, and one could involve veteran Chris Paul (h/t Silver Screen and Roll).
Via Yahoo Sports:
“Would Phoenix take Russell for Paul? The Suns held discussions with the Timberwolves regarding Russell prior to the trade deadline, sources told Yahoo Sports, before Minnesota found a new home for him with the Lakers. Phoenix also coveted Wolves center Naz Reid in trade talks, sources said.
“Russell is known to be close friends with Booker. Plus, the Lakers are said to be exploring similar sign-and-trade possibilities with Russell. For Los Angeles and Phoenix, losing Russell by free agency or waiving Paul would sacrifice a $30 million salary slot that feels all the more precious while staring down a daunting new second tax apron in the league’s upcoming collective bargaining agreement. These decisions are not ones to make on a whim, and that’s why Phoenix and Paul have begun discussing different alternatives roughly three weeks before free agency begins.”
Until Paul has a team secured for next season, the rumors of him possibly teaming up with his good friend LeBron James will be incessant.