The Brooklyn Nets Should Re-Sign D'Angelo Russell
This summer, Russell will become an unrestricted free agent
After finishing the season with a 26-56 record, the Brooklyn Nets missed the playoffs for a second straight year. With the offseason approaching, they have a huge decision to make.
Point guard D’Angelo Russell is at the end of his two-year contract that he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. This summer, he will become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to talk to other teams about negotiating a contract.
The Nets should consider keeping Russell
Under his two-year contract, Russell began this season with the Lakers.
On Dec. 29, he was traded to the Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. During the 29 games he played in Brooklyn, he contributed hugely. He averaged 12.9 points, a team-high 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals.
On Jan. 21, he played arguably his best game, despite suffering a loss to the New York Knicks. He recorded 23 points, 10 assists, and a season-high three blocks in that game.
The opportunity is wide open for the Nets
Although Russell has the right to play elsewhere, he has already made it clear that he desires to remain in Brooklyn.
“A lot of teams are rebuilding, but to be here and see this team rebuilding with the pieces that they have, I think the league will be on notice. They were on notice this year,” Russell told ClutchPoints during an Apr. 10 interview. “This group had a lot of good wins before I got here, and then when I got here, we beat a lot of good teams as well. I think just what the future holds with this group [is why I want to be back]. Obviously, what Jordi [Fernandez] and Sean [Marks] are creating, I’m familiar with it. Being somewhere familiar is something I’m definitely prioritizing.”
This isn’t Russell’s first tenure with the Nets.
After playing his first two seasons with the Lakers, he was traded to the Nets on Jun. 22, 2017. During those two years in Brooklyn, he averaged 19.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.1 steals. In the 2018-19 season, he earned his first career All-Star selection after averaging 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.2 steals.
If Russell and the Nets can work out another contract, it could pay dividends for both parties.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson