Lakers Rumors: D'Angelo Russell Meeting Set, Los Angeles Still Eyeing Top 2019 Max Free Agents

The Los Angeles Lakers have big plans in free agency, even after agreeing to trade for Anthony Davis. L.A. is looking at using whatever salary cap space it has to add a third All-Star to its roster.

The notion of a reunion between the Lakers and D’Angelo Russell has picked up steam in recent days. The Brooklyn Nets are expected to sign Kyrie Irving and make Russell an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to sign with any NBA team.

Brooklyn is reportedly wrestling with the idea of signing Irving and letting Russell walk if Kevin Durant doesn’t also agree to play for the Nets, at least leaving the possibility open that Russell could remain a restricted free agent.

There have been rumors of mutual interest between the two sides, even though Los Angeles traded the point guard to Brooklyn in June 2017, just two years after making him the No.2 overall pick in the NBA Draft. Russell was dealt largely because he posted a video on Snapchat in which teammate Nick Young admitted to cheating on his then-fiancee, Iggy Azalea.

According to Fred Roggin of NBC Los Angeles, the Lakers and Russell are scheduled to meet to discuss a possible contract.

“Now he’s ready,” former Lakers president Magic Johnson told The Athletic Monday, regarding Russell. “He’s much more mature. I said the only thing, he was immature back then. He could always score, but the guys would never play with him because of what he did (with the Young video). But now all those guys are gone and he’s on another level now.”

Russell, 23, had a breakout season in 2018-2019, making his first All-Star team with averages of 21.1 points and 7.0 assists for the East’s No.6 seed. A max contract would pay him just north of $27 million next season.

There is some dispute about how much cap room the Davis trade will leave the Lakers with when free agency officially begins Sunday night. Los Angeles is currently short of the nearly $33 million they would need to afford a max free agent that’s been in the league for at least seven years. Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker all fall into that category.

The Lakers can probably make a deal with Russell work. Doing so with one of the aforementioned perennial All-Stars won’t be easy, though the organization reportedly believes it can be done.

According to The Athletic, the Lakers are “confident they can get close enough” to the cap space needed to sign a player of Irving or Leonard’s caliber. Los Angeles would have to trade Moe Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones without taking any salary back.

Los Angeles reportedly still thinks they have a real shot to sign Leonard, whom many believe will only seriously consider the Toronto Raptors or Los Angeles Clippers. Walker or Butler might be more realistic options.

The odds are against a veteran that is seeking a max contract agreeing to play for the Lakers, leaving the younger Russell very much in play to become the third banana to Davis and LeBron James.