D’Angelo Russell will receive a big contract after this coming NBA season.
There’s no way this can happen, right? D’Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves is currently entering the fourth year of a max deal that will have paid him $117 million by the time it is through. At this stage of his career, many feel like they have him figured out as a player. More than that, he is currently the fourth-best player on his own team.
How could he ever hope to get megabucks again? There’s a strange thing that happens in the league, and that is that flashy guards who are able to pile up points are constantly in demand. Especially for organizations that are languishing near the foot of the standings or else play in small markets.
Russell was actually doing a fine job in Minnesota. He was deferring to Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, while also confidently calling his own number when he felt it was warranted. The Timberwolves were ok, but they played in a competitive Western Conference and are a small market franchise. All reasons to overpay to keep Russell around. He excites the fanbase.
But with the addition of Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves have designs on winning it all. There’s now not enough money to go around, and while the team may offer Russell money to come back after next year, the smarter bet is on a franchise like the aforementioned Kings, or a team like the Indiana Pacers or San Antonio Spurs, plunging their cap space into Russell.
He can put up numbers as the best player on a not-good team, and the front office will know it won’t lead to major success. But it will also still engage fans and put fans in seats. If that seems unfair, Russell has averaged over 20 points in multiple seasons. The 7.1 assists he managed last season were a career-high. He is somehow still only 26 years old. Put all of that together, and you better believe there is a lot more money in his future.