D’Angelo Russell intends to exercise the player option on his contract for the 2024/25 season, he tells Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The move will secure Russell’s $18,692,307 salary for the next season. Instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 28-year-old will delay his free agency until 2025, remaining under the two-year, $36 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last July.
D’Angelo Russell is coming off one of the best seasons of his NBA career, averaging 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 32.7 minutes per game across 76 regular season games (69 starts), with solid shooting percentages.
Russell’s player option decision was considered uncertain, as opting out would have given him more control over his future. Opting in will secure his ’24/25 salary, but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee he’ll stay in Los Angeles, as he appears to be a prime trade candidate for a Lakers team looking to upgrade its roster.
D’Angelo Russell ($18.7 million), Rui Hachimura ($17 million), and Gabe Vincent ($11 million) are seen as possible outgoing pieces for salary matching if L.A. pursues a trade for another impactful player to support star forwards LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Of these three, only Russell is on an expiring contract, while Hachimura and Vincent have guaranteed salaries for the 2025/26 season.
Sportsbooks with best Odds: