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Ahead of his looming player option decision, LA Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell posted his highlight reel on social media. Afterward, Lakers fans implored the former All-Star to stay with LA long-term.
Russell's second stint with the Lakers has been up and down, with his offensive production sometimes fluctuating, particularly come playoff time. Nonetheless, he is coming off a season in which he ranked third on LA in points (18.0), second in assists (6.3) and first in 3-pointers per game (3.0).
Last offseason, Russell signed a two-year, $36 million contract with an $18.7 million player option for next season. So, he could opt out of the final year of his deal and leave via free agency this summer.
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On April 8, ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted that Russell would "almost certainly" "not pick up the option." Moreover, after the Lakers' 4-1 first-round playoff series loss to the Denver Nuggets on April 29, Russell expressed a desire to "take advantage" of his "leverage."
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Nevertheless, upon seeing Russell's Wednesday highlight reel on X/Twitter, which he captioned, "FloatN," LA's fanbase did its best to convince him to opt in.
"Opt in, big bro. We need you ready," @ADHDGoat said.
"Opt in, superhero! We want you back!" @LAKERSRISE said.
Meanwhile, others called for Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to extend the offensive-minded guard.
"Get Pelinka on the phone, ASAP, big bro," @Lukaburner77 said.
"Float that contract extension real quick," @OGBlackedOut said.
Some also shared their appreciation for Russell's contributions to the Lakers over the past season and a half.
"One of the most underappreciated players in the league," @dloisthegoat123 said.
"We love having you as a Laker. No better place for you. Imagine winning a ring in the Purple and Gold. No better place to do it," @danksy3 said.
Also Read: D'Angelo Russell celebrates hitting his first ‘Eagle’ amid offseason golfing adventures
D'Angelo Russell on Orlando Magic's radar ahead of free agency
D'Angelo Russell still has until June 29 to decide on his player option. However, he is reportedly already on the Orlando Magic's free agency radar.
On Monday, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer confirmed Orlando's interest in Russell. However, he noted that the Magic may not be willing to offer him more than the Lakers.
“I haven’t talked to anyone in Orlando. I will admit publicly about D’Angelo Russell being on their radar, but I can guarantee you he is not on the Orlando Magic radar for more money than what he is potentially on the books for in LA," Fischer said on the "No Cap Room" podcast.
Orlando is coming off a fifth-place (47-35) Eastern Conference finish and its first postseason appearance since 2020. Nonetheless, the upstart squad finished dead last in 3-point shooting (11.0 3pg). So, it would likely benefit from adding a player of Russell's skill set.
However, if the Magic, or other potential suitors, aren't willing to shell out to acquire Russell, that will likely increase his chances of remaining with LA.
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