D’Angelo Russell is set to be a restricted free agent this offseason. Here are three reasons why the Brooklyn Nets should not re-sign him.
D’Angelo Russell is coming off a breakout campaign in 2018-19, where he vas voted to his first All-Star Game and helped lead the Nets back to postseason play after a four-year hiatus.
Russell posted career highs in points per game, assists per game, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. He was also the first Nets guard to average over 20 points a night since Deron Williams did it in 2011-12, when the team was still playing in New Jersey.
The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft is just 23 years old and was one of only five players to average at least 21.0 points, 7.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last year.
Despite all these accolades and achievements, the Brooklyn Nets should not re-sign Russell, a restricted free agent, this offseason. Since he is indeed a restricted free agent, Brooklyn will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet he signs with another franchise. However, the team would be unwise to do so.
Russell will almost certainly command a max contract and will have plenty of suitors this offseason. The Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers all have shown some degree of interest so far.
Nevertheless, the Brooklyn Nets will not be on this list, as it will limit what else they can do in free agency. This is something they cannot afford to do after making two trades involving draft picks to clear cap space.
Brooklyn needs to make a major splash in free agency this summer and unfortunately, re-signing D’Angelo Russell just isn’t it.
Here are three firm reasons to further outline why Brooklyn should not re-sign Russell.