The Los Angeles Lakers are perhaps the most talked about trading partner in the NBA right now.
The Lakers have reason to be buyers — they are one piece away from contention — and they have some draft equity and expiring contracts for sale, most notably D’Angelo Russell’s.
Russell is currently in the second year of a two-year, $36 million contract.
There’s no disrespect aimed at Russell when one acknowledges that he’s a walking trade chip for the Lakers at this point.
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes called Russell a “realistic target” for the Atlanta Hawks.
“This isn’t about Russell and his expiring salary, specifically,” Hughes said.
“He’s just a logical part of the return Atlanta might hope to get from the Los Angeles Lakers if they trade Young. Ideally, Russell would come aboard in a package that also includes first-round assets and some matching salary.”
“Maybe you don’t think Young belongs in any trade scenario, let alone realistic ones. But the last few years of intermittent speculation and the Hawks’ current “caught in the middle” predicament say otherwise.”