A D’Angelo Russell 3-Team Trade to Help LA Lakers Restructure, Sign Markelle Fultz | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

By hiring JJ Redick as coach of the roster, the Lakers emphasized the importance of player development. The team needs to get younger and, frankly, cheaper with the new rules. Instead of chasing a 30-year-old veteran with a heavy, multi-year deal like Jerami Grant, LA is breaking Russell’s contract into pieces.

Mann, 23, was the 18th pick in 2021 and is a more poised point guard prospect than Hood-Schifino. He’s up for an extension this summer, or the Lakers could wait for restricted free agency in 2025. Richards, 26, is a legitimate 7’0” center who is making $10 million over the next two seasons (his second is non-guaranteed).

The Lakers have thinned out some of their roster surplus by sending four players for two. With the salary reduction, the team should be able to pay Fultz, the top available free-agent point guard, a starting salary of $5.2 million via the taxpayer mid-level exception. Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, is a poor outside shooter but can create pressure at the rim off the dribble.

The 2024-25 Lakers are unlikely to be captured in a single trade. The Lakers lose their shooting touch with Russell, but he’s struggled to consistently bring it to the postseason. Instead, the team adds depth at point, size in Richards, and the financial/roster flexibility to bring in an additional player (either at a minimum or up to $13.7 million via the Russell trade exception).

The cost to upgrade during the LeBron James/Anthony Davis transfer window is a distant first-round pick with light protection.