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Brooklyn Nets: D’Angelo Russell is the perfect acquisition

By Andrew Hughes

Oct 19, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls to ball against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls to ball against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets made a blockbuster trade just two days prior to the NBA Draft. The team traded away longtime Net and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer in Brook Lopez to acquire D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Adrian Wojnaowski dropped the biggest Woj-bomb of the offseason when he reported Tuesday that the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a deal that would send Brook Lopez and the #27 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft to Los Angeles while the Nets would acquire D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov.

Whoa.

Brook Lopez was the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He was the team’s backbone. Through thick and thin Lopez was the one constant for the Nets since the team’s days in New Jersey.

The writing was on the wall for his departure though. Lopez has played dominant basketball the past few seasons. He even added a 3-point shot this past season shooting over 35 percent from downtown after never taking more than 10 3-pointers in a single season.

He was also a free agent next season. Lopez is likely to command a deal that could exceed $25 million annually. The Nets are in no position to hand that sort of deal out to a 29-year-old big with a history of foot problems.

Lopez will be playing out his contract in L.A. He should be able to thrive alongside a young Lakers core next season.

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For Brooklyn, this trade is all about acquiring D’Angelo Russell. Russell was the #2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Since being drafted to the Lakers, Russell has underwhelmed. He has shot just 40 percent from the field in his two-year career. He has shot a respectable 35 percent from the 3-point line, but Russell’s sharpshooting from deep was one of his calling cards. He had a 5:3 assist to turnover ratio last season; not ideal for a franchise point guard.

None of that matters.

Russell was apart of a transitional Lakers team in his rookie season. Kobe Bryant was going through his farewell tour in his final season. Roy Hibbert was his center. Byron Scott was mismanaging his young players’ minutes and unfairly punished them for their growing pains.

Now Russell has the backing of a head coach in Kenny Atkinson who will be all about his growth and development. This is Russell’s team now.

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He may have made mistakes on and off the court. He may have struggled with a franchise that demands excellence.

Now, Russell is the best player on a team that is rebuilding the right way. He is the new face of the Brooklyn Nets.

D’Angelo Russell is the best young prospect the Nets have had in over a decade. Welcome him with open arms, Nets fans.