The Lakers and Nets pulled off a surprising Sunday trade, sending D'Angelo Russell back to his old grounds in Brooklyn. The Lakers also shipped out young forward Maxwell Lewis and three future second-round picks to get Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Nets.
Coming Home to Brooklyn
Russell is headed back to where he once shined the brightest. The 28-year-old guard, who made his only All-Star team during his last run with the Nets from 2017 to 2019, hasn't quite found his groove in LA this season. He's been putting up decent numbers, though—12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in about 26 minutes per game. However, he started losing playing time after the Lakers' rough start to the season.
Lakers boss Rob Pelinka kept things classy when announcing the move: "We want to thank D'Angelo for his second stint with us, where we celebrated some great moments and accomplishments on the court together." For Russell, this marks his fifth time being traded since entering the league.
Lakers Get Tougher with Finney-Smith
Looking at this NBA trade, the Lakers are getting a real gem in Finney-Smith. He's been incredible from three-point range this year, hitting a career-best 43.5% of his shots from deep. The 31-year-old forward brings more than just shooting, though. He's one of those players who can guard anybody on the court, from quick guards to big centers.
Pelinka couldn't hide his excitement about the new additions: "With this trade, we are thrilled to add the physicality, toughness and elite shooting that Dorian Finney-Smith will bring to our core. We also greatly value the playmaking of Shake Milton. We are excited for our fans to get both of these players out on the court."
Money Moves and Future Plans
This deal actually helps the Lakers' wallet too. They're saving $15 million in salary and taxes, which isn't small change in today's NBA. Meanwhile, the Nets are thinking long-term. They now have—wait for it—31 draft picks over the next seven years, including 15 first-rounders and 16 second-rounders. Plus, they'll have over $60 million to spend in the offseason.
The trade also included Maxwell Lewis, a rookie who barely saw the court in LA, playing just seven games. Milton, heading to his sixth team in two years, brings some scoring abilities off the bench, averaging 7.4 points per game this season.
Wrapping Up
For both teams, this deal makes sense. The Lakers get tougher and more versatile with their roster, while the Nets keep stacking up draft picks like they're collecting ammunition. Only time will tell who got the better end of this NBA trade, but for now, both sides seem pretty happy.