The Impact of a Past All-Star's Departure Enhances the Los Angeles Lakers' Team Dynamics
The Impact of a Past All-Star's Departure Enhances the Los Angeles Lakers' Team Dynamics
On a Sunday, the NBA community was hit with the news that the Los Angeles Lakers traded away D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets, in return for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
This bargain might appear puzzling to some. Russell, a former All-Star, is still only 28 and had an average of 18.0 points per game last season. Why would a team on a mission to extract one more championship run from the LeBron James/Anthony Davis duo give away a key player like Russell and other valuable assets for two seemingly unimpressive bench players?
To decode this riddle, some background information is necessary.
On-Court Perspective
The Lakers' roster was severely imbalanced. They were overflowing with offensive-focused ball-handlers (Russell, Austin Reaves, and James), but lacked players who could contribute both offensively and defensively.
According to Dunks & Threes, only two Lakers (Davis and Reaves) have posted positive offensive and defensive Estimated Plus Minus ratings. The rest of their supporting cast has not been able to excel on both ends of the court.
Head coach JJ Redick was in a tough spot. If he opted for more offensive players, he risked losing ground on defense, and if he went with more defensive players, it would compromise their offense.
In the first eight games of the season, Redick started Russell in the starting lineup, which led to the Lakers ranking ninth in offensive rating and 28th in defensive rating. Since then, Russell has started just one game, with Redick choosing to replace him with a defensive-focused wing or forward. This shift improved their defense to 18th in defensive rating, but it significantly hurt their offense, which dropped to 18th. The Lakers look slightly better without Russell in the starting lineup (boosting their net rating from 21st to 17th), but they are still far from being legitimate title contenders.
To fix this, the Lakers required a swap of their wealth of playmakers for versatile contributors who could maintain their end of the floor. James and Reaves are clearly superior scorers, so Russell was the odd one out.
This brings us to Finney-Smith. Finney-Smith isn't an off-the-bench game-changer, but he excels in the role of a three-and-D player. He can space the floor with his shooting (43.5% from three on high volume) and uses his size (6'8, 6'11.75 wingspan) to make his presence felt on defense, especially as a backup rim protector.
Throughout this season, Finney-Smith has made positive contributions on offense (+1.4, 84th percentile) and defense (+1.4, 88th percentile), offering the Lakers the two-way balance they desperately required. With Redick no longer having to choose between prioritizing offense or defense around James, Davis, and Reaves, he can now tap into both.
Milton's role in this deal is less critical, primarily serving as a salary match (more on this in a moment). He will also bolster their guard depth in the wake of Russell's departure.
Financial Perspective
Some argue that this deal was also motivated by financial considerations. Russell is currently on an expiring contract (worth $18.7 million, according to Spotrac). Since the Lakers are projected to exceed the 2025-26 salary cap maximum, they would not have been able to land a replacement player of Russell's caliber in free agency.
Their sole options would have been to retain him (which would have been unfavorable given our previous points), let him walk for free, or execute a sign-and-trade deal. In general, sign-and-trade deals tend to result in less return value for the team because the player gets to pick their destination, thus reducing the team's bargaining power.
Finney-Smith and Milton's salaries collectively match Russell's, and both are under contract through the 2025-26 season. This way, the Lakers avoid the possibility of losing Russell for nothing in the offseason. And while Finney-Smith may not be a top-tier role player, he could likely outshine any player they could have acquired in a sign-and-trade deal in the offseason.
Conclusion
This move does not elevate the Lakers into championship-contending territory. However, they are a more balanced team than before, which is somewhat surprising considering that they gave up the best player in the trade.
The Brooklyn Nets welcomed D'Angelo Russell, a former All-Star and averaged 18.0 points per game last season, while the Los Angeles Lakers received Dorian Finney-Smith, a versatile three-and-D player who excels in both offense and defense.
Finney-Smith's role with the Lakers is significant, providing the balance between offense and defense that their roster was lacking. His high-volume three-point shooting and defensive presence are expected to significantly impact their net rating, allowing head coach JJ Redick to successfully utilize both their offensive and defensive strengths without compromising on either end.