Lakers News: Professional Chinese Team Appears on Betting Board to Sign D’Angelo Russell
Let's make one thing very clear... no matter how unplayable D'Angelo Russell was at times during the 2023 Western Conference Finals, he will not be out of the NBA any time soon.
One of the longest-running jokes on NBA Twitter that has been circling over the last few months has been those that delegate struggling players to an overseas squad, giving the notion that they cannot contribute to their NBA team anymore. When Dillon Brooks was struggling in the first round against the Lakers, he found himself at the center of the jokes and some of our own including Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley did as well.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green addressed recently that the players are well-aware of fans that like to throw them in those memes and they don't think too much of it. We certainly hope that D'Angelo Russell carries the same mindset as the jokes have got to a whole other level ahead of his upcoming free agency.
The possibility is very real that LA looks to move on from D'Lo and maybe chase after a different point guard such as Fred VanVleet, who will hit free agency soon as well. Therefore, betting odds have been released to showcase which teams would be the most likely suitors for the southpaw veteran and other than the Lakers, the list is topped by the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks.
However, if you continue scrolling down, you'll find the Guangdong Tigers at the number 12 spot with 18/1 odds to be his next destination. The Tigers play in the Chinese Basketball Association, have 11 championships and are owned by the Guangdong Winnerway Group.
Russell is only 27-years-old and is coming off of a season that saw him average 17 points on 41 percent from three to go with six assists. He played a major role in helping transform a Lakers squad that started off 2-10 to actually make the playoffs.
The jokes are funny and all but D'Lo will have plenty of NBA options if he doesn't return to LA.
