The Los Angeles Lakers have actively been shopping D’Angelo Russell for quite a while now.
They re-signed him in the offseason, but he was always one of the prime trade candidates entering the campaign, especially considering how much the team has struggled to find consistency this season.
Notably, Russell was the primary trade chip in a potential transaction around Dejounte Murray, with the Lakers keen on acquiring the Atlanta Hawks star.
Now, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports that the Toronto Raptors could be another team to look out for in the Russell sweepstakes (via NBA Central).
The Toronto Raptors are the most recent team to be involved in discussions about trading for D’Angelo Russell, per @mcten
“Russell's name has been mentioned in trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks in recent weeks, sources told ESPN, while the… pic.twitter.com/ptt6IgraQs
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 6, 2024
Russell has been on a tear since he got back in the starting lineup, making it tough for Rob Pelinka to decide whether to move on from him or not.
Then again, he’s also been quite streaky during his career, so there are several doubts about his ability to maintain this level of play, especially in the playoffs, where he’s usually struggled mightily.
The Lakers are also reportedly in the mix to make a run at Bruce Brown.
And while the Raptors were expected to ask for a first-round pick in return for the former NBA champion, they could also make sure to get Russell as a part of the deal.
They recently acquired Immanuel Quickley from the New York Knicks and made him their starter over former Lakers guard Dennis Schroder.
So, it would be interesting to see how they manage that potential backcourt logjam, assuming they don’t move Schroder before the trade deadline as well.
NEXT: Skip Bayless Is Against Lakers Trading 1 Veteran