Report: D’Angelo Russell Wants To Re-Sign With Nets

According to NBA reporter Brian Lewis of The New York Post, D’Angelo Russell wants to re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets. 

Russell becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. 

“With the ball in his hands and a leadership role, Russell is believed to have told those around him he wants to stay,” Lewis wrote. 

The Nets acquired Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Dorian Finney-Smith trade. Russell has appeared in 18 games with Brooklyn since the trade. He’s averaging 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 38.0% from the field, 31.3% from beyond the arc and 88.7% from the free-throw line. 

This is Russell’s second stint with the Nets. He played for Brooklyn in 2017-18 and 2018-19 before getting traded to the Golden State Warriors in the blockbuster Kevin Durant sign-and-trade deal. 

Russell has played for the Lakers (twice), Nets (twice), Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. He has career averages of 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists. 

“With the Nets sitting on a trove of cap space almost as big as the rest of the league combined — Detroit is the only other team likely to have more than the mid-level exception — Russell’s suitors will be limited,” Lewis wrote. “And if no star who the Nets intend to pursue becomes available this summer via trade — Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, etc. — then a short-term reunion could make sense for both parties.”

Russell is one of those players who isn’t a championship-level player but also is too good to be on a rebuilding team since he’s a talented scorer, shooter and passer. It will be fascinating to see what happens with Russell this summer once free agency starts. 

An Ohio State product, Russell was the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He’s played in 32 postseason games with the Lakers, Nets and Timberwolves, averaging 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 32.7% from 3.