Edward Corron

Blog Post #1

D’Angelo Russell Deserves a Max Contract

D’Angelo Russell, point guard for the Nets, is putting on a show this season in a contract year,
which complicates Brooklyn’s free agency plans. This summer, names like Kevin Durant, Kawhi
Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and many more perennial all-stars will be hitting the free-agency market,
and the Nets could be a potential landing spot for one of the bunch.

Through 57 games this season, Russell is breaking out to the tune of career highs in points per
game (20.0) and assists per game (6.6), as well as every single shooting percentage category.

Aside from the individual stats, the 6’5 playmaker has led Brooklyn to a 29-29 record with a cast
of odd-ball role players and young, exciting talent. That’s good enough for the 6 seed in the East,
and would be the first time Brooklyn has made the playoffs in four years – all without Caris
LeVert, the Nets’ second best player, for most of the season.

Russell will also be representing the Eastern Conference in this year’s annual NBA All-Star
game for the first time in his young career. His selection comes after Indiana Pacers guard Victor
Oladipo suffered a season-ending injury in his right knee back in January.

All of this culminates into one thing many people, including Magic Johnson, believed to be
untrue about D’Angelo: he’s a leader.

Back in 2017, almost two years to the day Russell was drafted, he was traded by the Lakers to
make room to draft his replacement – Lonzo Ball. “If they didn’t let me go then, they were gonna
let me go now, and I’d be going through what they’re going through,” Russell told Bleacher
Report. “Best thing that happened in my career.”

This trade gave an exhausted franchise a strong foundation to build on, and it gave a point guard
his chance to shine.

Even after all of this, where does Brooklyn go from here? Russell’s free agency this offseason is
restricted, and the Nets can match any offer other teams make. The ball-handler is well due for a
pay raise, and is staring down a max contract extension from the team that gave him his
opportunity to be in this position.

According to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the Nets can’t offer him his extension
yet, though. Russell is still on a rookie contract so he’s ineligible to receive said contract until
July 6. This gives Brooklyn some time to think.

I personally believe a max contract for D’Angelo Russell has been more than well earned. He
has worked incredibly hard through unideal situations and plenty of adversity to become the
player and leader on the court that he is today. Hopefully come July, the Brooklyn Nets will
make the right decision.