According to Los Angeles Lakers insider Jovan Buha, current starter D’Angelo Russell has been linked to the Orlando Magic:
“Orlando’s the team,” Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. “Orlando is the team that — talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers — Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor [for D’Angelo Russell].”
Russell has a player option worth $18.6 million that he could decline. So far, the combo guard has publicly expressed his desire to remain with the Lakers:
I’d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now. Obviously, I’ve been on the other side of it, and I’ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I’m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I’ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it’s supposed to play out.
This season, Russell has played 68 games for the Lakers, starting 61 of them. In those games, he is averaging 18.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. Furthermore, he is shooting 45.9% from the field and a career-high 42% from beyond the arc.
Eastern Conference Team Eyeing Los Angeles Lakers Starter
Why the Orlando Magic Are Interested in D’Angelo Russell
Even though he has been in the league since 2015, Russell is still just 28 years old. His combination of experience and youth in the league can be useful for any team in the NBA. The Magic have a solid, young team. Furthermore, their Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero frontcourt duo are intriguing. The team currently has a 42-31 record and owns the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they could greatly benefit from another premier scorer, especially in the backcourt. Additionally, with a 35.2 team 3pt% this season, the Magic are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league. This is exactly why Russell would be a good acquisition for Orlando.
Around the three with DLo
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— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 21, 2024
D’Angelo Rusell is Not the Only Guard the Orlando Magic Are Pursuing
Earlier in the season, reports suggested the Magic also have interest in Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson. Thompson will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. Acquiring the 34-year-old instead of Russell is a much more short-term solution for the Magic. Even so, it seems unlikely Thompson will leave the franchise he has been a part of since 2011. According to an NBA executive, Thompson is “not going anywhere” this summer:
“Klay’s not going anywhere,” one NBA executive predicted while chatting with HoopsHype. “The Warriors can’t let him walk. He’s a four-time champion, and they can’t really replace him. At some point, if a player isn’t getting the job done and still wants to play as he gets older, you’d come off the bench, and he’s doing that while playing better.
Furthermore, Thompson also talked about wanting to remain with Golden State to end his career:
“It would be awesome and an incredible feat,” Thompson told HoopsHype. “Only so many players have stayed with one franchise for so long and had so much success. It would be incredible.”
The Last Word
The Magic have a lot of potential and could become title contenders in the future with their core. Signing Russell or Thompson would put them on another level in the East,
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