Report: Wizards Wary of Potential D’Angelo Russell Trade for Wild Reason

The Washington Wizards are re-making their roster, and trying to re-make their image, as well. And that gets to the crux of a new report that says that the team isn't anxious to take on LA Lakers point guard D'Angelo Russell in a trade.

Lakers Daily's Anthony Irwin says that the team does not want to pair up Russell, who can be a bit of a strong character, shall we say, with "fellow space cadet" Jordan Poole. Yikes.

League sources also say Washington is wary of pairing Russell with fellow space cadet Jordan Poole.

Russell, as Irwin points out, is too good to allow a team like the Wizards (or other rebuilding teams) to really tank , plus, there are "some questions about his impact on locker rooms." That leaves D'Lo's trade market a little sparse.

The Lakers would like to move off of his $18 million this season, and there are some teams who wouldn't mind the expiring contract. But the other issues mentioned have gotten in the way of a deal.

Sources told Irwin that the Lakers started pushing hard around the league to find a trade as soon as Russell picked up that player option.

D'Lo actually had a terrific run in the second half last season, playing so well and being such an important piece for the Lakers that they couldn't seriously consider trading him at the deadline. He finished the season averaging 18 points with 6.3 assists and a 41.5% mark from long range. His playoff performance, however, as usual, was lacking.

A couple of other rebuilding teams, the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets, are said to be interested in Russell, but again, for his expiring contract more than anything else.