Does D’Angelo Russell Warrant So Much Hate? Is He Keeping Free Agents Away From Los Angeles Lakers?
By Sai Mohan
Should D’Angelo Russell be blamed for marquee free agents staying away from the Los Angeles Lakers? Does the second-year guard warrant so much hate?
Last month, barely minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Brandon Ingram, ESPN’s Mike Wilbon opined on air that the Purple & Gold should trade D’Angelo Russell and build around a young core of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and the Duke standout.
Why not all four? Does Russell lack talent? Isn’t he the youngest player in NBA history to sink at least 120 3-pointers?
Last week, a day after Russell hit an emphatic buzzer beater, albeit in a Summer League game, Wilbon once again decided to slam the former Ohio State guard for his exuberant “ice in the veins” celebrations.
"“Byron Scott (the previous Lakers coach) understood that this kid needs coaching. He (D’Angelo Russell) desperately needs it. Even if he doesn’t understand it. He’s saying all the right things this time around, he’s saying ‘coach me harder’. I get all that. I think it’s going to take a lot more than saying things. I think it’s going to take deep into the season to see if he really gets it.”"
This SportsNation panel sided with Russell, arguing that the youngster should be allowed to express himself on the court and have some fun, especially during the insignificant Summer League.
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Wilbon also revealed that several sources close to the Lakers questioned Russell’s work ethic last season.
"“We’re talking about work habits. I was told by people very familiar with what was going on with the Lakers. Does he work hard enough? Does he understand that this is not going to come as easy as college basketball? These are things that some kids get it and they don’t need a flip up the you know where. A young man in Minnesota (Karl-Anthony Towns) seems to understand that already.”"
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Ok, Mr. Wilbon. Didn’t Russell Westbrook get called out
for his unprofessional attitude
back in 2012? Didn’t Tracy McGrady, during his Orlando Magic years, claim to not practice hard enough because had
Didn’t Rashard Lewis get into a shouting match with assistant coach Sam Cassell during his stint with the Washington Wizards?
Granted, Russell hasn’t done enough to be afforded the prima donna treatment. But has he done enough to evoke the ire of analysts and fans? A survey of Lakers-based discussion boards reveals that many fans support the team but not Russell.
As a rookie, Russell averaged a decent haul of 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. But he finished ninth in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Jokic, Devin Booker, Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Emmanuel Mudiay and Myles Turner.
Some would argue that Russell underwhelmed as the second pick in a loaded draft class.
Lest we forget, most of Russell’s hate comes from the infamous Nick Young incident. Seeing as Iggy Azalea has ended her relationship with Young due to his alleged involvement with other women, shouldn’t Russell be forgiven already?
Or will everyone continue to eviscerate him for breaking the sacred “Bro Code”?
In the aftermath of that scandal, players-turned-analysts Raja Bell and Richard Hamilton opined the Lakers had no choice but to trade Russell since it would affect harmony in the locker room and possibly keep free agents away from Los Angeles.
And even though general manager Mitch Kupchak maintained the scandal wouldn’t affect the team’s free agency efforts in the post-Kobe Bryant era, the likes of Hassan Whiteside and Kevin Durant refused to take meetings with the 16-time champions.
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Kent Bazemore, a former Laker, reportedly turned down a four-year $72 million offer from Los Angeles to return to Atlanta Hawks on a four-year $70 million deal. In fact, none of the marquee free agents met with the Lakers.
Al Horford, Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons, Ryan Anderson and Nicolas Batum reportedly interacted with several teams before inking deals. None of them wanted any part of the Lakers.
DeMar DeRozan, who grew up a fan of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, refused to meet the team. Surely, the Lakers had a shot at the shooting guard? Or did they?
Didn’t LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard snub the Lakers when Russell wasn’t a Laker? Who cops the blame for those failures by the front office?
D’Angelo Russell needs to average at least 18 points and eight assists next year to silence his haters once and for all. Or would they find newer ways to blame him for the Lakers becoming the third-most relevant franchise in the state of California?
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What can Russell do to regain the faith of the fan base?