JJ Redick reveals 3 key traits Lakers lose after trading D'Angelo Russell 

LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently opened up about D'Angelo Russell getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The Lakers parted ways with Russell by sending him, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Lakers' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on New Year's Eve, Redick had nothing but praise for Russell. He pointed out the three things they are going to miss from the one-time All-Star, who was demoted to a bench role this season.

"We're gonna miss his playmaking," Redick said, according to Daniel Starkland of Lakers Nation. "We're gonna miss his ball-handling. We're gonna miss his shooting. He's had several games, including recently the second game in Sac, the Portland game here, where we don't win those games without him. ... We're gonna miss a lot from D-Lo."

D'Angelo Russell primarily came off the bench under coach JJ Redick, who preferred Austin Reaves and Max Christie in his starting lineup. Russell offered a lot on the offensive end, but his defense has always been a source of frustration for many.

By acquiring Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, they added defense and shooting. While both players are not scorers like Russell, Finney-Smith can knock down threes and Milton could get hot at any moment. But it's their defense that sets them apart and makes the LA Lakers a better team.

Now in his second stint in Brooklyn, Russell is expected to take the reigns left by Dennis Schroder, who was dealt to the Golden State Warriors in mid-December. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so he's motivated to have a good campaign for the Nets.

In two seasons in Brooklyn, Russell was named an All-Star once and even led them to the playoffs in 2019.

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Dwight Howard claims LeBron James made D'Angelo Russell trade to Nets

Dwight Howard claims LeBron James made the D'Angelo Russell trade to the Nets. (Photo: IMAGN)

Former LA Lakers big man Dwight Howard was not a fan of the team trading D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. Howard then claimed that LeBron James decided to ship Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, calling him by his infamous nickname, "LeGM."

"D-Lo went to the Nets," Howard said, according to Landon Buford. "What's going on Lakers? LeGM made the decision. LeGM said it's enough D-Lo. They traded D-Lo for Finney-Smith? Let me be the GM. They just be doing anything."

Russell is just 28 years old and only entering his prime, so there's plenty of time for him to show off in Brooklyn. As for the Lakers, they might not be done making trades ahead of the Feb. 7 deadline.