It’s possible that Brooklyn’s season-ending loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday night was D’Angelo Russell‘s last game with the Nets, given that the All-Star point guard is facing restricted free agency this summer. However, Russell told reporters today that he hopes to extend his stay with the franchise a little longer, as Ian Begley of ESPN.com details.
“I definitely want to be here. But I also know it’s a business, too. So I’m not going to play that role like I don’t know what could possibly happen,” Russell said. “Say somebody comes here that I have to be a part of (a transaction to acquire them), I know that could be a possibility. So I just want to stay in this moment and not speak too soon about anything.”
A former No. 2 overall pick, Russell enjoyed a breakout season for the Nets in 2018/19, establishing new career highs in PPG (21.1), APG (7.0), FG% (.434), and 3PT% (.369), among other categories. The 23-year-old’s performance set him up well for free agency, particularly since Brooklyn and several other teams around the NBA have the cap flexibility to accommodate a maximum-salary contract.
[RELATED: Maximum Salary Projections For 2019/20]
While it remains to be seen if Russell will get a max offer from the Nets or another team, league sources have intimated that he’ll likely be seeking one, Brian Lewis of The New York Post wrote this week. As I’ve noted before, considering how active GM Sean Marks has been on the restricted free agent market in recent years, it isn’t unrealistic to expect a rival team to return the favor by going after Russell with an aggressive offer sheet, forcing the Nets into a tough decision.
While Russell would have to listen if another team came up with a more lucrative offer than Brooklyn’s, the point guard’s familiarity with the franchise means the Nets will enter free agency with a leg up on re-signing him.
“Yeah, for sure, for sure,” Russell said, according to Begley, when asked if he’ll favor the Nets over other suitors. “I don’t know any other teams, I don’t know any other GMs or coaches. I don’t know any of those people. I know where I’m at. So it definitely gives you that advantage.”
I think it’s safe to say they’ll match whatever he’s offered, though I don’t think it’ll go/get to that state. He’s part of the attraction for FA’s going to Brooklyn.
I hope he keeps getting the opportunity to grow and develop. Lakers would’ve had him riding the bench and he’d be far worse off if they didn’t trade him.
He sure would have looked good playing next to LeBron.
LBJ could never be with the Lakers if D’lo was still a Laker, they had to trade him for cap space to sign LBJ, so it is quite a pointless comment, right?
That’s not true at all. The issue was Mozgov’s money, NOT Russell’s. Mozgov could have been stretched or packaged with one of the other “stars.” So, you’re wrong. They just preferred Ball and Ingram.
Brooklyn better go all out with a max for D’lo, because Dinwiddie has been totally stinking the place out since he signed his new contract, coincidence?
Dinwiddie looked better in the playoffs. Russell reverted, sulked. Dinwiddie did not play for stats after he signed and did maybe lose his edge for a bit, while Russell was showcasing for a max. DR worked so hard he finally wound up with better stats than SD!– until Philly.
Russell has improved a lot but he’s not Kyrie or Kemba. If you’re looking to win a title, those two give you a better chance at PG and they’re both FAs. If you sign one of Kemba and Kyrie and play Russell off the ball, you’re sacrificing minutes for LeVert, Dinwiddie, Harris, others. Russell is a good story but team is still very much under construction. I’d expect huge measures taken this offseason, and nothing’s off the table, including signing a top FA PG. Nets have smarts in the front office and lots of money.
True they’ll explore all options but DLo just turned 23 a month ago and Kemba, although great, is 29 in a week or so. Now if Kyrie, 26, comes to BK and wants AD there and Marks can put something together then a sign and trade makes sense. Would the Pels take DLo, Allen, Kurucs, pick 17 and a future 1st? Probably not but you never know. DLo is at least an all-star at 23 and could fit in nice with Randle and Hunter/Culver/ Reddish plus Allen in the middle.