D’Angelo Russell Likely to Decline Player Option, Enter Free Agency Amid Lakers’ Playoff Push

As the Los Angeles Lakers fight to extend their playoff journey against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference playoffs, the future of D'Angelo Russell within the team hangs in the balance.

According to ESPN‘s Brian Windhorst on a recent episode of their podcast, there is a strong likelihood that Russell will opt out of his player option for the upcoming season to explore free agency.

Russell, who re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a lucrative contract last year, holds a player option for the next season valued at $18.7 million.

Even though Russell’s contract wasn’t expiring, the deal structure prompted the Lakers to consider including him in trade discussions over the course of the season.

During talks involving Atlanta Hawks guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, Russell was notably mentioned as a potential piece that could have been sent back to Atlanta.

The Lakers reportedly offered Russell, alongside rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round draft pick, and additional draft considerations to the Atlanta Hawks in their pursuit of Dejounte Murray, but Atlanta expressed disinterest in acquiring Russell.

However, the Lakers refrained from making any substantial moves, banking on a late-season surge to secure a playoff berth. Their strategy paid off as they closed the regular season with an impressive record and clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference after triumphing over the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament.

Russell played a vital role in the Lakers’ regular-season success, posting solid numbers with an average of 18.0 points per game and a career-best three-point shooting percentage of 41.5% on 7.2 attempts per game.

Despite his contributions, Russell’s limitations have been evident in the ongoing playoff series against the Denver Nuggets. He struggled with his shot in crucial moments, notably going 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in Game 1 and remaining scoreless on 0-of-7 shooting in Game 3.

While Russell did have a standout performance in Game 2, where he tallied 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting from three-point range, his consistency wavered as the game progressed, scoring just five points on 2-of-6 shooting in the second half.

With numerous teams in need of scoring prowess and shooting efficiency, including the Lakers themselves, it seems inevitable that Russell will opt for free agency to explore potential offers that could exceed his current player option.