6. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets
The recent trade rumors revolving around Jimmy Butler put a bit more pressure on D’Angelo Russell‘s final season before restricted free agency. If Russell falls flat again in 2018-19, and the Brooklyn Nets‘ two max slots start looking attractive to Butler in order to team up with his buddy Kyrie Irving, it’s entirely possible the Nets just let D-Loading walk.
That’s a worst-case scenario for Russell, of course, but it’s no secret he’s a below-average starting point guard in this league right now. Injuries played a part, of course, but his 15.5 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game on .414/.324/.740 shooting splits were hardly the numbers expected from a “franchise player” grabbing hold of his new team with a chip on his shoulder.
Russell has no burst, turns the ball over too much and isn’t good enough with his jump shot to warrant all the step-backs. In 2018-19, it’s time for Mr. Ice In My Veins to prove he hasn’t just gone ice-cold.