D’Angelo Russell: As the Los Angeles Lakers celebrated a strong season opener with a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, speculation continues to mount around D’Angelo Russell’s future with the team. NBA insider Jovan Buha recently commented on Russell’s potential trade scenario in the “Buha’s Block” podcast, hinting that the Lakers may be open to exploring options for the point guard as the midseason trade deadline approaches.

While Russell’s performance in the first game—scoring nine points on 4-for-12 shooting—hasn’t entirely swayed decisions, his role remains under the microscope. Buha noted, “I think at a minimum, if they are looking really good and this continues, then I think you have to at least think about attaching a first-round pick to a guy like Gabe [Vincent] or Vanderbilt.”

This leaves Russell’s future uncertain. Having set a Lakers record for the most three-pointers in a season last year, Russell’s impact on the court has been significant, though his playoff performances and defense have been scrutinized. His expiring contract might make him an attractive trade asset for teams looking to manage salary, especially with the Lakers likely needing another reliable ball-handler to ease the load on LeBron James.

The Lakers face a pivotal choice: keep the squad as is or swing for a championship-level trade. Either path could spell big changes for Russell’s position on the roster, underscoring the high stakes for him and the franchise as the season progresses.