Three potential trades for Lakers' D'Angelo Russell

Head coach JJ Redick promptly benched Russell for L.A.’s following game on Friday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Although both have said all the right things to the media, Lakers president Rob Pelinka could be hitting the phones hard and looking for a trade for his underperforming point guard.

Next, we’ll examine three trade scenarios, keeping in mind Pelinka’s reluctance to deal future first-round picks and Russell’s limited trade value.

The Los Angeles Lakers receive: Jordan Poole
The Washington Wizards receive: D’Angelo Russell and Gabe Vincent

At first glance, Lakers fans might scoff at trading Russell and Vincent for Poole, but on offense, the Wizards guard has a certain je ne sais quoi. He’s only a couple of years removed from scoring 18.5 points per game while forming a nasty three-headed monster alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, helping propel the Warriors to the 2022 chip.

Fast forward to this season, and Poole’s averaging 20.7 PPG while shooting 45.6% from deep. Sure, this trade comes with risks: Poole is known for attitude issues and can turn into a wreckless chucker on the court. Still, his overall shot-making talent as a sixth man can shift the momentum of a single game or even a playoff series. While the Lakers don’t want to give up two point guards, it’s not like Vincent has been lighting up. He’s averaging just 3.0 PPG on a dismal 29.7% clip from the field with a 0.4 PER.

For the Wizards, this would be a win. Poole’s tenure in Washington has vacillated from hard-to-watch to absolutely disastrous. With nothing to play for, he’s spent most of his time launching contested jumpers and jogging back on defense after they rattle off the rim. This move would allow the Wizards to unload his contract, freeing them from a financial commitment that no longer aligns with their rebuild.

The Los Angeles Lakers receive: Nikola Vucevic and Chris Duarte
The Chicago Bulls receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Christian Wood

As with the Poole trade, some L.A. fans might initially balk at this move for Vucevic. Dig deeper, though, and this would be a steal for the Lakers. Vucevic is averaging 21.2 PPG and 10.1 RPG while shooting 47.5% from downtown. He’d seamlessly fit with the Lakers as a skilled, floor-stretching center, creating a supersized frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis at power forward and rounding out a sweet-shooting starting five with Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

The biggest knock on Vucevic has always been his backline defense, but with Davis and Jaxson Hayes by his side, he wouldn’t be tasked with heavy rim protection duties. Opposing teams might try to exploit his mobility on switches, yet he’s shown respectable lateral agility for a big man throughout his career.

As for the Bulls, they’ve been looking to move Vucevic for over a year, and this deal not only frees them from his contract — running through 2026 and peaking at $21.5M — but also clears the path for a full rebuild. In shedding Vucevic, Chicago can focus on developing their young talent and positioning itself for a high lottery pick in the loaded 2025 draft.

The Los Angeles Lakers receive: Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton
The Utah Jazz receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis and the Lakers' 2029 first-round draft pick

The Lakers have been linked to Kessler for months, and while his strengths as a rebounder and rim protector would bolster the Lakers’ middling defense, his fit isn’t as seamless as Vucevic’s. It’s doubtful Pelinka would part with a promising young player like Lewis and a future first-round pick for Kessler to come off the bench. Yet Kessler’s pairing with A.D. is clunky — both struggle with outside shooting, which could crowd the floor and compromise L.A.’s spacing, putting Redick’s basketball acumen to the test.

L.A. would also land Collin Sexton, a young combo guard entering his prime who gives 100% effort on both ends of the floor. Although he tends to get tunnel vision with his jumper instead of making the extra pass, Sexton would provide the Lakers’ beleaguered bench a much-needed boost.

This would be a clear-cut tank move for the Jazz. The trade would likely weaken them this season, positioning Utah for a high lottery pick and a shot at Cooper Flagg, while also bringing in two promising young players in Hood-Schifino and Lewis, plus a valuable 2029 first-round pick from the Lakers.