A five star player pickup $18.7 million to stay with the Lakers

In order to ensure his continued presence with the Los Angeles Lakers for the upcoming season, D’Angelo Russell has chosen to exercise his $18.7 million player option.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, D’Angelo Russell, the guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, has chosen to exercise his $18.7 million player option for the upcoming campaign. Winning a title is his top priority.

Despite having his greatest season with the franchise since his first stay, Russell’s postseason flaws had raised serious doubts about his future with the Lakers this offseason.

Based on advanced measures, Russell’s 2018–19 All-Star season with the Brooklyn Nets suggests that this season was his second-best of his nine-year career.

Russell’s playmaking ability has improved dramatically; he now commits just 2.1 turnovers per game and has a career-best assist-to-turnover ratio of 3:1.

This past season, Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over 76 games (69 starts). He attempted 7.2 three-pointers per game and shot a career-high 41.5% from outside the arc.

The 28-year-old left the Minnesota Timberwolves after three seasons to join the Lakers in February 2023.

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Bronny James appears to have a future with the Lakers as he has received clearance from his doctor to compete in the NBA combine.

Bronny James was cleared medically to take part in the NBA Draft combine following a health scare early in his college career, according to a report on Monday.

Bronny went into cardiac arrest during a basketball practice at USC last summer, and he was flown to a nearby hospital in Los Angeles. Despite making a comeback to the court this season, James was never able to establish himself on a Trojans team that was having trouble winning; on just 36% of his shots, he averaged just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.

Even worse, Andy Enfield took a head coaching job at SMU this offseason after leaving USC.

This forced the 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard to declare for the NBA Draft while still being eligible to attend college, which he intended to use through the transfer portal to another university.

It appears as though Bronny’s professional prophecy is coming true instead of the many who believed he would use his remaining eligibility at Duquesne University, where Dru Joyce’s staff has deep ties to the James family.

The most recent indication that Bronny and his father might play together in the NBA is his medical clearance for the combine.

One of the best players in NBA history is LeBron James. In addition, he is among the NBA’s most powerful players in terms of choosing who plays for his team.

He has been telling us (repeatedly) for the past two years that he will be playing with his kid, Bronny James. And we ought to believe him if history supports his claims.

James declared in February 2022, “My last year will be played with my son,” to The Athletic. “I will be wherever Bronny happens to be. If I could play with my son for a year, I would do anything. At that point, it isn’t about the money.

Coincidentally, Bronny’s entry-level eligibility coincided with LeBron’s deal, providing him with the support he needed to support his assertion.

LeBron hasn’t changed his stance on this assertion in the past two years.