D’Angelo Russell has continued to boost his trade value with an red hot run of form and averages of 23 points and 6.8 assists over his past 10 games.
As a result, numerous teams are sniffing around ahead of the trade deadline, and the Toronto Raptors are the latest squad to show interest in Russell, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Toronto Raptors are the most recent team to show interest in acquiring Russell ahead of the trade deadline.
“Russell’s name has been mentioned in trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks in recent weeks, sources told ESPN, while the point guard managed to play some of the best basketball of his career,” McMenamin wrote.
The Lakers have previously been in talks to trade Russell to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dejounte Murray, but the Hawks were more interested in Austin Leaves, who the Lakers were reluctant to let go.
Russell has also been linked to the Brooklyn Nets, one of his former teams.
He also had no-trade clause in his contract, but he has reportedly agreed to waive it, a move that’s fuelled speculation that a trade could be on the cards.
“I just thought it made sense,” Russell said of waving the no trade claise, per McMenamin. “Obviously I’ve been here before, I played for the Lakers before, so I know what the requirements are to be successful here are. So, if you’re part of the future here you’ll be successful. If you’re not, you’ll get traded. And I’ve been traded before here. So, my approach is just a little different.
“I really just genuinely, humbly don’t care because I know I can’t control it, one. And, two, I just won’t allow my mind to go there. I like to focus on this and you guys see how I’ve been focusing on basketball and not comments and what’s trending on social.”
The trade deadline is on Thursday February 8 at 3pm ET.
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