The Lakers have traded D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-roud picks to the Nets and will acquire Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
After weeks of trade rumors, the Lakers have finally made a deal, reportedly trading D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round draft picks for Dorrian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton of the Brooklyn Nets.
ESPN’s Shams Charania was the first to report on the trade.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed on a trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, sources told ESPN. pic.twitter.com/V175zGtmKW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 29, 2024
The second-round picks will reportedly be for the 2027, 2030 and 2031 NBA Drafts. This gives the Lakers two players with 3-and-D ability and more cap flexibility, as they are now approximately $3.5 million below the second tax apron.
The Lakers get much needed wing depth and flexibility below the second apron.
Below 2nd apron: $3.5M (was $30K)
Dorian Finney-Smith: $14.9M and $15.4M (P)
Shake Milton: $2.9M, $3M (NGTY), $3.3M (NGTY)
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 29, 2024
Russell began his career as a Laker, playing in Los Angeles for two seasons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He returned to the purple and gold during the 2022-23 season and helped the Lakers reach the Western Conference Finals that season. Last year, he set the franchise record for made threes in a single season.
This summer, Russell opted into his contract and returned for another season as a Laker.
During this year, Russell was averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game for Los Angeles. However, his role had been reduced from a bona fide starter to a bench player who could contribute some scoring to the team.
Dorrian Finney-Smith has been mentioned in Lakers trade rumors since last year and even during this season and will now be taking his talents to Los Angeles.
He was averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists for the Brooklyn Nets and provides the Lakers with another option on the wing.
Finney-Smith is considered a 3-and-D player, which is exactly the kind of skill set the Lakers have been searching for. He is averaging a career-high from deep, shooting 44% from 3-point range.
Milton is the other Net involved in this move. He is averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists and will give the Lakers another shooting guard who can get hot from deep.
He recently had one of his best performances of the season during the Nets’ victory over the Bucks on Dec. 26. He scored 20 points while shooting 4-6 from 3-point range. Milton is currently converting 39% of his 3-point attempts.
Lewis is the other Lakers player who will be leaving the franchise due to this trade. He signed a four-year deal in the summer and is a promising wing who has spent most of this season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.