D’Angelo Russell has been traded from a Western Conference contender back to the Nets. If Russell is upset about joining a rebuilding team, he didn’t sound that way when speaking to the media on Wednesday. The former Lakers guard seemed excited about going back to Brooklyn, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets.
“It’s a good feeling, honestly, to go back somewhere you’re comfortable, somewhere you know the ins and outs a little bit. See some familiar faces,” he said. “It kind of makes the process a little easier to adjust to. So I’m just grateful for that.”
Russell played two seasons with the Nets from 2017-19. He has an expiring $18.7MM contract.
We have more from the Nets:
- Russell changes the backcourt dynamic for the club. He’ll essentially share play-making duties with Ben Simmons, Lewis writes. The club has lacked a pick-and-roll guard since Dennis Schröder was dealt to the Warriors in an earlier trade. “We know the type of player he is: A primary ball handler, very good shooter, a player that’s going to be important for us. Good pick-and-roll player, good playmaker out of pick-and-roll,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “So, very excited to get to coach him. And he’s going to help this team because it gives us a different dimension with his ability to handle and organize players.”
- Cameron Johnson left Sunday’s loss to Orlando during the third quarter due to a left hip issue. However, he avoided a serious injury and is expected to play against the Raptors on Wednesday. “I’m good. We’ve been taking care of it. Full go in practice and feel pretty good,” Johnson said on Tuesday to Lewis. “Yeah, it’s just stuff I’ve been dealing with. It’s nothing crazy. It’s not out of the ordinary. Sometimes stuff happens. Left hip just tightened up on me a little too much there. But I’m fine.” Johnson is considered Brooklyn’s most valuable trade asset and is the team’s second-leading scorer.
- Ziaire Williams won’t play tonight due to left knee injury management, Lewis tweets. It will be the 12th straight game Williams has missed, though it sounds as if he hopes to suit up for the second end of Brooklyn’s back-to-back set on Thursday.
- The front office swapped out one of their two-way players. Get the details here.
“The club has lacked a pick-and-roll guard since Dennis Schroder was dealt to the Lakers in an earlier trade.”
This is why you should proofread your writing folks. He plays for the warriors not the lakers
His PR team told him to spew that speech. Most of these players will never keep it 100. Who enjoys being on a rebuilding team?
Ben and Dlo played high school ball together at Monteverde and were successful then so it’ll be interesting to see how they go now.
Brooklyn clearly going full rebuild it’ll be worth watching how they handle the offseason. Do they resign Cam Thomas on a big contract even through a rebuild? Do they bring back Ben and/or Dlo who both have expring deals. Then ofcourse Cam Johnson do they make a trade with him…
BKN fleeced the LAL… one of the most lopsided trades in league history!!!
Russell had his best yrs in Bklyn. Too bad all he ever wanted was the contract. Doesn’t have a clue or care about winning. IMO Nets will buy him out. He’s a cancer on young guys. Wasted talent, real shame.
Nets are all about lottery now. They can get another lottery pick. It will be heaven.
I wonder who will go after C Johnson. And if they keep Claxton.
Completely agree…
And with Dlo even if they don’t buy him out they get some easy Ls to add to the tank…
To say he can get Ls is nuts. But true
Gave the record setting, for losing, Raptors a W today…
Why would they buy Dlo out? That makes absolutely no sense.
You say that as if they were a title contender coming into the season. Why would they trade Johnson and Claxton?
So are the Hawks lottery bound as well?
They aren’t contenders either… Nor were they expected to be at the start of the year…
You have to have a really bad season to be all about the lottery this early on…
Johnson and Claxton are just moveable pieces on a team going no where… With the new CBA the Nets are in a place to fleece a team or 2 with those 2 contracts… Especially if they do not want to pay them and spend longer rebuilding…