The Los Angeles Lakers traded guard D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for the second time in his pro career on Sunday. Los Angeles also gave up three second-round picks and forward Maxwell Lewis — who was selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft — to the Nets.
In exchange, the Lakers received two players. Dorian Finney-Smith may be the biggest name heading to Los Angeles as a result of the deal, but the team also acquired Shake Milton, who served as a spark plug off the pine for Brooklyn this season.
Folks around the NBA sphere reacted to the news of the trade and offered plenty of contrasting takes.
WE WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP OMG
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) December 29, 2024
D’Lo really appreciate the time you were a Laker. We don’t win that Warriors series without you going crazy. They could never make me hate you fam 🙏🏾
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) December 29, 2024
DLo really went from LA to Brooklyn twice lol
— WarriorsMuse (@WarriorsMuse) December 29, 2024
dlo to Nets is good for him and the team. nets will be able to compete still. and he gets to hoop. @PatBevPod
Finney-Smith to Lakers idk about that tho
— Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) December 29, 2024
Thank you for everything, @Dloading 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/tBlSSaHwLI
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) December 29, 2024
Hell of a trade for the Lakers. Vincent and Milton can better fill DLo minutes. Probably more touches for Reaves. And DFS is an awesome two way fit. All at a low cost!
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) December 29, 2024
Thank you, @Dloading. Wishing you the best of luck in Brooklyn! pic.twitter.com/bUsWM7jTGd
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) December 29, 2024
https://t.co/7lT0wNd5vZ pic.twitter.com/nWWuFg8ag3
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) December 29, 2024
DLO FINALLY OFF MY TEAM
LFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH
— FADE (@FadeAwayMedia) December 29, 2024
I like the Laker trade if only for addition by subtraction. They got rid of DRuss's $18 mil contract, and LeBron never trusted his way-up, way-down play. Finney-Smith brings trustable 3&D. And I've always loved Shake – he can microwave off bench. Grade: B.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 29, 2024
Finney-Smith should bolster the Lakers’ depth at forward and provide the team with two skills that are very important to succeeding in the modern NBA: 3-point shooting and versatile defense.
The 31-year-old was red-hot from 3-point range with the Nets this season prior to being dealt to Los Angeles, shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from deep on 5.4 attempts per game across 20 contests (all starts).
Additionally, Milton could help soften the blow of losing a player like Russell. Milton is capable of getting the ball through the bottom of the net, and he put together some notable performances off the pine this season before the trade.
He scored 16-plus points in each of his final two games with the Nets and had a 20-point performance mixed in there.
The Lakers are hoping that Finney-Smith and Milton will prove to be impactful additions as the team looks to win now with LeBron James nearing the end of his NBA career. James’ 40th birthday will actually be on Monday, and he is in his seventh season with the Lakers.
The trade is arguably less notable from Brooklyn’s standpoint, as the team is seemingly in the middle of a downward spiral. The Nets own a record of just 12-20 on the season, and they lost to the Orlando Magic by one point on Sunday after they were outscored by 16 points in the fourth quarter.
