The Brooklyn Nets execution of their rebuild is off to a resounding start. But who won the Brooklyn-Los Angeles Lakers trade, and what is D’Angelo Russell’s Nets future?
Brooklyn came into the 2024-25 offseason looking to acquire draft picks through trades of veteran assets. Since the start of the 2024-24 NBA season, the Nets have made four trades, including two in-season.
Brooklyn Nets Rebuild Execution Off To Resounding Start: Examining Team’s 4th 2024-25 Trade and Russell And Lewis’ Role & Future
Today’s latest trade was when the Nets sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Lakers for Russell and Maxwell Lewis. The Nets also received three second-round picks.
Trade Details and Impact
Los Angeles Lakers Get:
Dorian Finney-Smith
Shake Milton
Brooklyn Receives:
D’Angelo Russell
Maxwell Lewis
2027 Second Round Pick
2030 Second Round Pick
2031 Second Round Pick
The Minuita
Brooklyn increases its 2024-25 salary cap by $2.8 million to add Russell and the seldom-used Lewis for a second time. Still, the Nets are $1.9 million clear of being hardcapped at the first tax apron.
However, the main point is that Finney-Smith was not in the Nets’ future plans. The Nets have had several discussions with teams about DFS, which is a testament to his perceived value. Finney-Smith is a 3-and-D forward, and if the Nets were looking to make a run at the Play-in Tournament, they probably would have kept him.
Here is the thing: Finney-Smith is really just a role player who is not efficient offensively. Plus, the 31-year-old has a $15 million player option for next season that he indeed will exercise.
Milton was part of the package the Nets received to make the Mikal Bridges trade with New York work. Milton was likely never in the Nets’ plans, but he ended up being a pick in their second unit due to injuries. He provided a little shooting and did have a couple of big offensive games, like in Brooklyn’s victory over Milwaukee on December 26.
While Milton had two years left on his three-year, $9 million contract, the next two seasons are nonguaranteed. So, if the Nets had kept him, they could have cut him at the end of the season, which would have cost them his $2.8 million salary.
I agree with what ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton said from a Lakers perspective:
“There’s a lot to like about this deal from the Lakers’ perspective. Long lacking in two-way role players, the Lakers landed a quality one without giving up a first-round pick while also cutting their luxury tax bill.”
Brooklyn Side Of Things
Russell returns for a second stint with the Nets as a more seasoned and mature point guard. Since his first stint in Brooklyn, where he appeared in 129 games from 2017-19, Russell has improved his efficiency and 3-point shooting. He has also improved as a ball handler.
But Russell is far from a flawless player. The 28-year-old still takes ill-advised shots, is not always engaged defensively, and is careless on both ends.
The Lakers demoted Russell to the bench before the trade. To his credit, the 6-3 guard handled coming off the bench exceptionally well and was more productive as a reserve.
Russell is on an expiring $18.6 million contract.
Denver selected Lewis in the second round of 2023 as a 3-and-D prospect, but he has not seen much time with the Lakers over the last two years. In his limited time in the league, Lewis has struggled shooting the ball, making 22.2% of his field goal attempts over 122 minutes in 41 appearances. He is under team control for the next two seasons, though only $100,000 of his salary is guaranteed, and 2026-27 is fully nonguaranteed.
Future Salary Cap Implications
While Brooklyn added salary this season, they theoretically cleared $18 million from their books next season. If the Nets allow Russell to become an unrestricted free, which seems likely, they will enter the offseason with eight players under contract (not including draft picks) and over $90 million of cap space available. Lewis is included among the eight players, though the Nets have until June 29 to decide on what to do with him,
The biggest thing for Brooklyn at this point is the draft assets. With the three second-round picks from the Lakers, the Nets have now netted 11 draft picks (6 first-round, 5 second-rounders) in their four trades league year. Besides the DFS and Bridges trades, the Nets have received draft picks from Golden State in the Dennis Schroder trade and a 2030 second-round pick in the trade that also brought Ziaire Williams to Brooklyn from Memphis.
Brooklyn now has a projected 31 draft picks over the next seven years (2025-2031). Fifteen of the draft picks are first-rounders, and 16 are second-round choices. The Nets have multiple first-round picks every year during this stretch, including potentially three in 2025, except for 2026 and 2030.
Winner of Trade
In terms of what both the Lakers and Nets wanted to do, I would say this was a win-win for both teams. However, if pressed, I would say the Lakers win the deal, as there is potential for DFS and Milton to have a bigger impact on the Lakers than Russell does on the Nets.
Now, if Russell balls out the rest of the season and the Nets can work out a relatively cheap extension, that could swing the deal toward the Nets. Also, we will have to see what the Nets do with the second-rounders they receive.
A more interesting question is whether Brooklyn should have traded Finney-Smith to Memphis instead of the Lakers. It has been reported that the Grizzlies offered the Nets a top-15 protected 2025 first-round pick, Luke Kennard, and John Konchar, in exchange for Finney-Smith and second-round considerations.
While a first-round pick is always intriguing, the Nets did the right thing by rejecting Memphis’ offer. With the given protection, the first-round — as the Grizzlies pick is currently projected to be at 27th — it really doesn’t have more value than a high second-rounder. Konchar has two more years guaranteed on his deal ($12.3 million), and the 28-year-old wing is an end-of-bench type player.
Verdict:
To Be Determined, though, I lean slightly towards the Lakers at this point.
What Will Russell’s Role Be?
Brooklyn has no intentions of competing for a Play-in spot. However, the Nets want to be as competitive as possible, so I expect Russell to have a major role for at least now. The Nets sit in 12th place in the East with a 12-20 record, losing 10 of their last 13 contests.
One thing, Russell will likely be on the Nets roster until the end of the season. There are thoughts that Russell could be bought out, but that doesn’t make sense.
“For those suggesting the Brooklyn Nets and D’Angelo Russell could consider a buyout,” Michael Scotto said on X. “I’m told that’s not the case.”
Cam Thomas returned to action after missing 13 games with a hamstring in Brooklyn’s 102-101 loss to Orlando today. Thomas, on a minutes restriction, came off the bench against the Magic as Ben Simmons and Keon Johnson remained in the starting lineup.
Johnson has improved his production since moving to the first unit. However, the 23-year-old has been very inefficient because he is not a good shooter, so he figures to move back to the bench.
Even with that, Jordi Fernandez still has a decision to make. Should he start Thomas and Russell together, which could be disastrous defensively, or have one of the two come off the bench?
Could Russell Remain With Nets Beyond This Year?
It may be in the Nets’ best interest to keep Thomas in the starting lineup, as he is potentially part of the Nets’ future. Either way, Russell will have a major role in the Nets’ offense going forward. Keith Smart of Sportac suggested that Russell should start alongside Simmons:
Expect Russell to step into the starting lineup, as he’ll share the ballhandling duties with Ben Simmons. The duo once formed a very effective partnership at Montverde Academy in high school and now reunite in the NBA. Russell’s ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates will help a Nets offense that floundered after Schroder was traded.
Russell projects as a top-3 option, as he and Thomas are the Nets’ best shot creators. Cam Johnson is, of course, one of the Nets’ top options, though he is much more of a catch-and-shooter than Russell and Thomas are.
Russell should also be able to provide leadership and mentorship to Thomas, Keon Johnson, Williamson, and Reece Beekman. He figures to hit the free-agent market at the end of the season.
Russell reportedly wanted a $20-to-$25 million year deal before agreeing to a two-year, $36 million deal (the second year being a player option). He is still an NBA starter, but unless he “balls out,” a lucrative multi-year is unlikely.
As unlikely as it is, Russell could return to the Nets if he demonstrates leadership and consistency. But it would likely have to be on a friendly contract.
What About Maxwell Lewis’ Role
For the time being, expect Lewis to spend most of his time with the G-League Long Island Nets so he can continue his development. Lewis has not yet shown that he is an NBA-caliber player.
However, the 22-year-old has shown glimpses of why he was taken with the No. 40 pick in 2023 in the G-League. He is a high-volume shooter who needs to be more consistent from beyond the arc and improve his ballhandling.
In 10 games with the South Bay Lakers, Lewis averaged 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. Lewis drains 2.4 three-pointers with shooting splits of 39.9/33.8/82.4. He has produced one double-double and has scored in double-figures in all 10 games, including four contests of at least 20 points.
It is possible that the Nets got a diamond in the rough with Lewis, but only time will tell. Lewis should get some run with the Nets, likely later in the season (after the trade deadline). If he improves shot selection and efficiency, there is a good chance that the Nets will guarantee his 2025-26 contract.
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