Life After the Lakers: What’s Happening to D’Angelo Russell?

From Lakers to Nets: A Trade That Made Sense—At Least for L.A.

Back in early 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers made a significant midseason move, sending D’Angelo Russell, Max Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031) to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

At the time, the Lakers’ side of the trade received most of the attention—and for good reason. They upgraded their wing depth without giving up a first-round pick, adding a defensive-minded 3-and-D player in Finney-Smith. The move also allowed Austin Reaves to take on a bigger role, which has since proven to be a major boost for L.A.

But what about Brooklyn?

Specifically, what has happened to D’Angelo Russell since he was sent back to the franchise that originally drafted him?

The answer? Not great.

The D’Angelo Russell Experience in Brooklyn: Same Player, Worse Efficiency

Russell’s second stint with the Nets has been far from smooth.

He was expected to take on a bigger offensive role in Brooklyn, and while his raw numbers have seen a slight increase, his efficiency has completely cratered.

Russell’s Stats Before & After the Trade:

At first glance, you might think his numbers have improved slightly—his scoring and assists have gone up.

But the reality? His efficiency is a disaster.

• His FG% dropped from 41.1% to 37.5%

• His 3PT% fell from 33.3% to 29.8%

• His true shooting percentage (TS%) dipped from 53.7% to 51.6%—which is well below league average

And if that wasn’t bad enough, his struggles have been glaring in key moments.

In a 99-105 overtime loss to the Pacers, Russell scored 22 points but shot just 7-of-22 from the field and 3-of-12 from three.

The game before that? A 96-104 loss to the Celtics, where he finished with 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting and 4-of-13 from deep.

This isn’t just a bad stretch—this has been his consistent level of play since arriving in Brooklyn.

From Revival to Regression: What Went Wrong?

It wasn’t always this bad for Russell.

When he was traded to the Lakers at the 2023 deadline, he resurrected his career. His shooting efficiency spiked, and for a brief moment, it looked like he had found the perfect role in a system that suited him.

Russell’s Best Stretch (Post-Trade Lakers 2023)

• 17.4 PPG | 48.4% FG | 41.4% 3PT | 61.0% TS

Then, in the 2023-24 season under Darvin Ham, Russell was still a highly efficient shooter, averaging:

• 18.0 PPG | 45.6% FG | 41.5% 3PT | 58.8% TS

• One of only six players in the NBA to shoot 40%+ from three while making at least 3 per game—joining Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, CJ McCollum, and Donte DiVincenzo.

That version of Russell was a legitimate weapon.

So what happened?

1. A Role Shift That Exposed His Weaknesses

With the Lakers, Russell was protected—he played off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, allowing him to focus on spot-up shooting and secondary playmaking.

In Brooklyn, the system is completely different. The Nets needed him to be a primary creator, which has exposed his inconsistency and inefficiency.

2. Defensive Liability with No Offensive Cushion

Russell has always been a below-average defender.

With the Lakers, his elite shooting covered up his defensive issues.

Now that he’s shooting below 30% from three, he’s hurting the team on both ends.

Brooklyn, a team in the middle of a rebuild, has no reason to keep giving big minutes to an inefficient veteran guard.

The Free Agency Nightmare: What’s Next for Russell?

Russell made a bold decision last summer—he exercised his $18.7M player option, betting that he could increase his value and land a bigger contract in free agency.

Right now? That bet looks like a major miscalculation.

If he had continued playing like he did with the Lakers last season, he might have secured a multi-year deal worth $15M+ per year.

Now? He might struggle to even get a contract above $10M per year.

Here’s why:

1. Rebuilding teams don’t need him – At 29 years old, he’s too old for a rebuilding squad to invest in.

2. Contenders don’t trust him – His playoff struggles with the Lakers and inconsistent effort on defense make him an unreliable option for winning teams.

3. His best skill (shooting) has disappeared – If he’s not an elite shooter, what does he bring?

His market value has collapsed.

Russell’s Controversial Comments: Burning Bridges?

Adding to his issues, Russell’s recent comments have rubbed people the wrong way.

After being traded, when asked about his new role with the Nets, he said:

“Man, I’ll never take this kind of freedom for granted again.”

Then, when Russell Westbrook thanked the Denver Nuggets for allowing him to be himself, Russell retweeted the post—which many fans saw as a shot at the Lakers.

It’s not a great look, especially considering that the Lakers gave him multiple chances—and he simply wasn’t consistent enough to be their long-term answer.

Final Verdict: A Career at a Crossroads

Russell isn’t washed, but he’s in a tough spot.

His ceiling is clear—when he’s hot, he can be an efficient shooter and solid secondary playmaker. But when he’s off? He becomes a major liability.

Unfortunately, in Brooklyn, he’s been off way too often.

This upcoming offseason, he’ll be a free agent again. But unlike last time, he won’t have the leverage to negotiate a big contract.

So what’s next?

• He could return to Brooklyn, but the Nets aren’t committed to him long-term.

• He could sign with a contender, but his playoff struggles make him a risky bet.

• He could take a short-term “prove-it” deal, but at this stage of his career, that’s not ideal.

For now, D’Angelo Russell is running out of options—and time.

The Lakers were right to move on. Now, Russell has to prove he still belongs in this league.