The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a hot run having won 6 of their last 7 games. Despite focusing solely on potentially making the playoffs, the 9th-seeded Lakers will have several issues to focus on after the end of the 2023/24 campaign. As of now, two key players can become free agents this summer.
LeBron James is the most urgent and most important one, followed by starting guard and 1-time All-Star D’Angelo Russell. Russell noted recently that he wants to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers after his resurgence in the starting lineup the last two months.
Russell has been averaging 18.1 points, 6.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds through 61 games this season. During a cold shooting stint in December, he lost his place in the Lakers starting lineup, but he has returned to Darvin Ham’s primary rotation since February.
In his latest outing, Russell took the floor against his former team, the Brooklyn Nets, and scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting adding also six rebounds and six assists to help the Lakers improve to 42-33. Russell has the option to hit free agency next summer.
Orlando Magic appear as potential suitors if D’Angelo Russell opts out from Lakers’ contract
Russell has a player option for next season, but he can opt to bypass it and become a free agent. That said, several teams could show interest in the sharpshooting point guard with the Orlando Magic being among the suitors, per The Athletic’s beat reporter Jovan Buha.
The Orlando Magic are expected to be very active in the free agency as four guards will be free agents this offseason. Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris and Trevelin Queen are all expect to hit the market this summer.
The Orlando Magic might opt to keep them, but with the team in a winning trajectory, brining in a player like D’Angelo Russell alongside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner could be the move that will make them one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
“Orlando’s the team,” Buha said via Sports Illustrated. “Orlando is the team that talking to people with the Lakers, talking to people outside the Lakers, Orlando is the team that probably gives them the most concern in terms of a potential suitor.”
The Orlando Magic are sitting 5th in the East with a 43-31 record and they have the chance to enter the playoffs. They could host a 1st-round playoff series if they finish the season inside the Top-4.
