Report: Lakers Offered D’Angelo Russell Close to $100 Million During Offseason

By Jonathan Sherman
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Updated: December 12, 2019

John Hefti / USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have a superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it looks like that duo nearly became a trio of stars.

According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Lakers offered D’Angelo Russell nearly $100 million this offseason.

“Russell only wanted serious bidders and, sources say, he had three: The Lakers — wouldn’t that have been quite the reunion? — nearing a potential $100 million offer but in limbo until Kawhi Leonard made his choice, the Wolves, up over $100 million but still needing to create cap room to get to his max, and the Warriors, offering the full max in a complicated sign-and-trade involving Durant,” Slater wrote.

As Slater indicated, the reunion would have been quite interesting. That’s because the Russell first entered the NBA as the Lakers’ No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

His career in L.A. only lasted two seasons. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets after an up-and-down tenure with the Lakers. It was with the Nets that Russell earned his first All-Star Game appearance last season.

It’s hard to know if the Lakers would have improved from signing Russell this offseason, or if they are now better off for not having done so.

Surely, Russell’s ability to score would have been helpful to stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James. With the Golden State Warriors, Russell is currently averaging 22.0 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.

That beings said, that kind of deal would have likely kept the Lakers from signing key role players such as Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo.

Despite criticism at the time, it appears as though the Lakers played the 2019 offseason perfectly. Their two stars have been transcendent, and a handful of role players have come up huge throughout the season.

That’s a big reason why the Lakers currently lay claim to the NBA’s best record of 21-3.