D'Angelo Russell confident Lakers won't trade him
D'Angelo Russell says Lakers' GM Mitch Kupchak told him he won't be traded
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Despite rumors that he may get traded, Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell is not in the least bit worried. Russell is confident that he won't get traded mainly because Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told him that it won't happen.
From Mark Medina of The Orange County Register:
"You hear trade talks," Russell said on Tuesday at the Lakers' practice facility. "Then you get a text from your GM saying he trusts your work ethic and don't worry about it."
Russell represents one of the few assets the Lakers could dangle in a trade for a veteran or for another draft pick. But it doesn't appear Russell's future is in question. He has spent most of the offseason working out at the practice facility and peppering Lakers coach Luke Walton with questions over the phone.
Getting a vote of confidence from your GM should help put Russell's mind at ease and will allow him to focus on further developing his game in the offseason.
Russell had an up-and-down rookie season and an off court incident didn't help matters either. But at just 20 years old, Russell is part of the Lakers young core and it would be almost foolish to not see how he develops in his second year. Especially since now the Lakers have a new coach in Luke Walton, who may be able to get the most out of Russell, something that former coach Byron Scott seemed unable to do.
