Ever since D’Angelo Russell landed in Los Angeles from Minnesota within the final commerce deadline in February, issues began to lookup for the Lakers, as they shined during till the Western Convention Finals towards the Denver Nuggets.
It appeared as if the previous Timberwolves participant was the proper match for this purple and gold squad. Nonetheless, his performances went from finest to worse this marketing campaign, and by the postseason, many followers and analysts agreed he was at fault throughout his newest exhibitions.
Now it’s rumored that he may be on his manner out of California, and the commerce hypothesis scene is catching hearth with the chances. The newest story means that the Lakers’ future taking pictures guard may be in Canada.
Sean Davi of Bleacher Report has actually digged up details about a possible switch that may take Fred VanVleet to California this summer time. Based on the NBA insider, Russell and a 2027 second-round decide to Toronto may be a deal of curiosity for the Raptors.
“Once we are speaking about Fred VanVleet, I must make this very, very clear,” Davi stated. “We’re solely doing this deal if Fred VanVleet picks up his participant choice, proper? As a result of if Fred VanVleet doesn’t decide up his participant choice, then it’s a double sign-and-trade, which in the end hard-caps each groups.”
The reporter stated it plain and clear. “And I don’t suppose the Raptors will wanna hard-cap themselves for D’Angelo Russell and I don’t wanna hard-cap myself for Fred VanVleet”, he assured.
Davi was not too long ago invited over to the “Lakers Nation” Podcast to speak to Trevor Lane about this potential offseason commerce:
Russell, an Ohio State product, is to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent this summer time. Though he was elementary through the second half of standard season, followers don’t appear in a position to overlook how poorly he carried out towards the Nuggets.
The purpose guard solely averaged 6.3 factors and three.5 assists whereas taking pictures 32.3% from the ground and 13.3% from past the arc towards the top-seeded workforce within the Western Convention.
Is taking pictures guard Fred VanVleet match for the purple and gold roster?
In the course of the interview, Davi broke down VanVleet as a participant, explaining why the one-time All-Star ought to match completely in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old, who signed a four-year, $85 million contract in Toronto three years in the past, averaged 19.3 factors, 4.1 rebounds and seven.2 assists this season whereas taking pictures 39.3% from the sector, 34.2% from vary and 89.8% from free throws.
“Fred VanVleet, excessive quantity on-ball participant that’s nice in ball screens,” the reporter stated. “93rd percentile when it comes to ball display screen utilization. seventieth or so percentile when it comes to effectivity out of ball screens. 35.0% catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter this yr. You would want that quantity to get again to the quantity it was within the 2021-22 season, which was round 40.2% on catch-and-shoot alternatives. In order that’s the quantity you want it to be.”
The Raptors star shares the identical company referred to as Klutch Sports activities Group, who offers with Lakers superstars Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
