After the trade of D'Angelo Russell, the Los Angeles Lakers released a statement through their general manager, Rob Pelinka. The statement, shared by the team's communications department, expressed gratitude for Russell's contributions on the court.
"We want to thank D'Angelo for his second stint with us, where we celebrated some great moments and achievements on the court. We wish him and Maxwell Lewis all the best in their future endeavors with the Brooklyn Nets."
"We are thrilled that Dorian Finney-Smith will bring physicality, toughness, and elite shooting to our core. We also highly value Shake Milton's playmaking abilities. We are excited for our fans to see these two players on the court."
ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Sunday about the trade involving these four players. The Lakers traded Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks (2027, 2030, and 2031) for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.
Finney-Smith provides much-needed wing depth, earning 14.9millionthisyearwithaplayeroptionfor15.3 million in the 2025-26 season. This season, he averaged 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Nets.
D'Angelo Russell could only sit on the bench, averaging 12.4 points and 4.7 assists. This is his second career move from the Lakers to the Nets and his fifth overall trade.
What's next for the Lakers after trading D'Angelo Russell?
Trading D'Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis to the Nets could be the start of many future trades. While the full details of the trade are not yet clear, the team retains flexibility for further trades, including one or more first-round draft picks.
Before the trade, the Purple and Gold had four second-round draft picks. Now, they have three first-round picks (2027, 2029, and 2030) and one second-round pick.
In addition to adding wing depth, they now enjoy greater financial flexibility below the second tax apron. In fact, this trade reduced their tax bill from 53.2millionto42 million.
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