D'Angelo Russell had a solid regular season, contributing 1,369 points and 482 assists, while hitting 226 three-pointers at a 41.5% clip. Only four other players—Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Damian Lillard—matched or surpassed Russell’s achievement of scoring at least 1,300 points, dishing out 350 assists, and making 220 three-pointers in the 2023-24 season.

However, Russell's playoff performances have been lackluster, with real shooting percentages of 38.2% and 48.1% in the past two seasons, respectively. Real shooting percentage accounts for all shots taken, including free throws, and a mark below 50% indicates inefficiency.

Russell's Trade Value

Russell's struggles in the playoffs have made him a liability, and his inability to consistently contribute at a high level in crucial games makes him a difficult player to trade. Championship contenders like the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Mavericks might view Russell as a liability in the postseason, while rebuilding teams like the Pistons and Hornets see no long-term value in acquiring him.

A Proposed Trade: Lakers for LaVine and a First-Round Pick

Despite Russell's limitations, American sports media outlet FanSided proposed a trade where the Lakers would send Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Kendrick Nunn to the Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine and a 2027 first-round pick.

However, the Bulls are reportedly looking to trade LaVine and Nikola Vučević, and despite being willing to attach a first-round pick, they have yet to find a suitable trade partner. This suggests that LaVine's trade value may be lower than expected, possibly due to injury concerns and his large contract.

Reasons Why This Trade Is Unlikely

1. Bulls Have Depth at Guard: The Bulls acquired Aleksej Giedraitis (Giddey) in a trade involving Alex Caruso, and they have seen significant improvement from Coby White, who averaged 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Both Giddey and White offer more upside than the veteran Russell.

2. Doesn’t Align with Bulls’ Rebuilding Goals: The Bulls are looking to clear cap space by trading LaVine and Vučević. Although Russell's contract expires soon, Hachimura and Nunn both have two more years on their deals, which doesn’t help the Bulls achieve their goal of freeing up salary.

Conclusion:

This proposed trade seems to be a speculative scenario created by the media. It's unlikely that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka would be able to swing such a deal, especially considering the Lakers' previous missteps in trades, such as the Westbrook trade that resulted in the promotion of the Wizards' general manager.

This article provides a detailed analysis of the proposed trade and the reasons why it is unlikely to happen. It highlights the current situation of both Russell and LaVine, along with the respective goals of the Lakers and the Bulls.