Lakers News: How Brian Windhorst Believes D'Angelo Russell Will Approach Player Option This Summer
Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard D'Angelo Russell has been playing so well this season, especially since the calendar flipped over to 2024, that it's quite possible he's outgrown his current contract.
The one-time All-Star has enjoyed a terrific season alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. On the year, the 6'3" OSU product is averaging 18.2 points on borderline-elite .459/.419/.821 shooting splits, 6.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks a night.
During a fresh conversation with cohosts on his The Hoop Collective Podcast, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Kendra Andrews, ESPN's Brian Windhorst opined that Russell is likely to opt out of his $18.7 million player option for the 2024-25 season and enter unrestricted free agency.
"I think almost certainly he will not pick up the option," Windhorst said. "You work your whole life to be coming off a great season and being unrestricted."
At 45-34 and winners of eight of their last ten games, the Lakers have been capitalizing on a generous schedule with victories over a lot of struggling Eastern Conference clubs of late, and Russell has been a big part of that. LA is just 1.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns and the seventh-seeded New Orleans Pelicans, both of whom are 46-32.
The team has gone 21-9 since February 1st, one of the best records in that stretch. LA's newish starting five of Russell, shooting guard Austin Reaves, forwards James and Rui Hachimura, and Davis has looked absolutely terrific on offense, and downright serviceable on defense.
