Amid an already active 2024-25 NBA trade season, the Brooklyn Nets struck on yet another move Sunday afternoon by way of a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, Sean Marks and company have agreed to send Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to LA in exchange for a borough-bound package headlined by D'Angelo Russell and three future second-round picks.
Considering Brooklyn (12-19) seems to be in full-on tank mode, many initial thoughts among fans and pundits appeared to be that the franchise acquired the career 17.5 point-per-game scorer and his $18.6 million salary to buy him out upon arrival (i.e. a salary cap-clearing maneuver).
However, such suspicions may not be the reality of this transaction. In a reactionary report, Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto has revealed what he's been told to be the true intentions of the Nets moving forward.
Nets intend to keep D'Angelo Russell for duration of contract, per Insider
For those suggesting the Brooklyn Nets and D’Angelo Russell could consider a buyout, I’m told that’s not the case. DLo will come to Brooklyn for his second stint with the Nets after becoming an All-Star with the organization in 2019. Russell is on an expiring $18.69 million deal. https://t.co/Xg0XmQ19mH
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 29, 2024
This exchange adds roughly $5.6 million in salary to Brooklyn's payroll this season, but, considering Russell's deal comes off the books this offseason, Maxwell Lewis's 2025-26 payday is not fully guaranteed, and Finney-Smith's $15.3 million player option for next season is now in Los Angeles, it's a trade that creates more financial flexibility for the ball club beyond 2024-25.
As noted by Scotto and likely already known by Nets fans, this now marks DLo's second stint donning the black and white threads, as he spent two formative years of his professional career with the franchise from 2017 to 2019.
During this span, the point guard established himself as an All-Star with averages of 19.0 points, 6.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals on 35.5 percent shooting from distance while guiding the team to a surprise sixth-seeded finish in the Eastern Conference standings back in 2018-19 with a record of 42-40.
Since departing from Brooklyn during the 2020 offseason, Russell has found himself suiting up for three separate organizations in the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and, most recently, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Along the way, he has seen his league-wise status steadily decline, going from being viewed as a borderline franchise cornerstone to a mere second-unit role player in a matter of six years.
Now, heading back to the Nets for his second go-around while boasting season averages of 12.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, the 28-year-old will likely be looking to raise his stock as an on-court contributor and his earnings potential ahead of free agency during these final four months of the campaign.