NBA Rumors: Lakers New Look Could Entice Russell To Return To Hollywood

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for a third superstar and that person could possibly be a former player in D'Angelo Russell. After a breakout year, while playing for the Brooklyn Nets, multiple teams are interested in signing the second overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft. And from the looks of it, the feeling is mutual on both sides.

According to Arye Abraham, a source has confirmed that the Lakers are interested in bringing back the 23-year-old guard and that a meeting would be taking place soon. He also added that Russell is also open to the idea and that he holds no ill-feelings towards the Lakers organization.

It was in June 2017 when Russell was traded along with Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and the rights to Kyle Kuzma. Aside from that, then-team president Magic Johnson did not exactly have the kindest of goodbye's to DLO, thanking him for his services but emphasizing that Los Angeles needed was a leader, Fox Sports reported.

Despite the mutual interest on both sides, there is one order of business that needs to be settled. Being one of the top free agents in the market today, there are money matters to be ironed out. Probably aware that he stands to get good offers from multiple teams, Russell reportedly said that he would be open to rejoining the same team that drafted him back in 2015 "if the money was right."

As mentioned in a previous post, the Lakers have eight roster spots open. One of the key positions that need to be filled is the point guard position. Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart are no longer around and are headed to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of the Anthony Davis trade. Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker have been mentioned as possible targets for the Lakers although nothing has been set in stone. Like Russell, both NBA stars are expected to endure a busy free agency period as teams try to beef up for the 2019-20 NBA wars.

Ironically, Irving is a player strongly linked to the Nets. Should Uncle Drew agree to join the Nets, this development could bump Russell out of Kenny Atkinson's rotation. Aside from Russell, other names who have been linked to the Lakers in filling up open roster spots include Lopez, Bobby Portis, DeAndre Jordan, and Nikola Vucevic. Seeing how the Lakers are hard-pressed in terms of salary budget, it may all boil down to the asking prices of their targets or letting go of some seldom-used players left in the mix.