5 Most Underrated Los Angeles Lakers Heading Into 2016-17

PG – D’Angelo Russell

D’Angelo Russell earned a lot of mixed reviews during his rookie season. Some games, he looked like a star in the making. Then, other games, he’d look like a raw, immature guard who still had a long way to go. However, I’m confident he’ll take the next step in his maturation in 2016-17.

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Russell looked like he had already undergone considerable development during Summer League this offseason. He was the Lakers’ top scoring option, and still did a great job of dishing the rock and cleaning the glass — especially for a point guard.

So why is there still this stigma that Russell isn’t worth the hype?

Sure, he had an up-and-down rookie season muddled by some off-the-court issues. However, the flashes we saw were more than enough to ward off the early “bust” label. His impressive Summer League showing also should have quieted any critics of the former No. 2 overall pick.

Russell still has high expectations to meet in 2016-17, but I think he’s got the tools to get the job done. Especially with an improved supporting cast and Kobe Bryant out of the picture, the opportunity is there for Russell to step into the spotlight and become the new face of the franchise.

Until that happens, though, Russell will continue to be overlooked as one of the NBA’s best young guards.

Next: One Of The NBA's Most Underrated Guards