The blockbuster trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets last month came as a surprise to many. The Los Angeles Lakers fans also thought that he is an integral part of their rebuilding process, and would be a fixture in their lineup for years to come, adding to the shock they felt when the deal was reported.
The team’s head coach, Luke Walton, made an appearance on the latest episode of The Lowe Post Podcast, with ESPN’s Zach Lowe, where he discussed how difficult it was to let go of the team’s former starting point guard.
“It was hard for multiple reasons. Just his talent alone, he's a second-year player and he averaged like 16-6-5 this year. Then you get to know the players and you work with them day in and day out and you're sitting in there watching film and he's with your assistant coaches, so the relationship and the bold builds. Part of why I love coaching so much is to see the growth in young players and to see them figure stuff out.”
“I thought was going to be a big part of our future here. Obviously, that isn't the case now, but trades are always tough,” Walton said. “But at the same, you're around this game long enough, you realize there's a huge business side to it and you get used to it.”
Even if they will not be working together anymore next season, Walton still wishes the 21-year-old well and is rooting for his success. He even went as far as saying he hopes he’ll be an All-Star someday and always play well against the Lakers.
“I said ‘Look, I hope you end being an All-Star and come back kicking our butts. I really do. I hope he gets it and it works out for him well, but you have to move on because now we got other guys and it's just the way our business goes. I wish him the best and hope that he has a long, successful career. It's always tough when you make trades like that.”
This definitely says a lot about how much Walton believes in the skill set and potential of Russell. There is no doubt he is a very talented player, and he has the chance to become a star in the league if he will continue to improve his game, and also apply the things he learned from Walton this past season.
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