D’Angelo Russell has been playing at a high level for the Los Angeles Lakers for over two months. But as hot as his 3-point shooting has often been, his days with the team could be numbered.
He has a player option for next season that he could decline to become a free agent this offseason. While Russell has said he would love to remain with L.A. beyond this season, no one can be entirely confident about what the future will hold.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic said recently the Orlando Magic could be poised to make a run at Russell.
“Orlando’s the team,” Buha said. “Orlando is the team that talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers, Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor.”
The Magic have been a surprise team from the start of the season. They missed the play-in tournament with a 34-48 record last year, but this year, second-year big man Paolo Banchero has emerged as an All-Star. As a result, they are fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Adding Russell to an emerging group could make the Magic a dark-horse team in the East while leaving L.A. with a void in the backcourt.