Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons D’Angelo Russell needs to be re-signed

1. D’Angelo Russell is a franchise guard

Yes, the 22-year-old is a franchise guard and should be taken seriously. Russell may not score 24 or more per game, but he is leading a Brooklyn Nets team that has faced injury and adversity. He is leading the team in points (19.6), assists (6.4) and steals per game (1.2) while making his teammates around him better.

After being traded by Los Angeles, he wanted to prove that he’s a leader and a player that front offices can build around. The city of Brooklyn has embraced him through the highs and lows.

D-Lo can score in a variety of ways, whether it’s his signature floater, step-back jump shot or on the fast break. This season, he is shooting a career-high 37.4 percent from behind the arc, which is crucial to his success.

Unlike most point guards, the lefty is able to affect the game in multiple ways, which is a selling point for the front office as it tries to recruit free agents this summer.

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The Nets need to re-sign the fourth-year guard because of his consistency and durability this season. He has been the most consistent player on the Nets’ roster and has only missed one game so far.

Irving (UFA), Kemba Walker (UFA) and Terry Rozier (RFA) will be free agents come this summer. However, there is no guarantee that Irving signs with Brooklyn, and Russell could arguably become better than both Walker and Rozier.

Re-signing Russell needs to be a priority because of his age, future potential and his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

Brooklyn is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-15 season, and part of that is because of Russell’s play.