While the trade that sent him to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this summer came as a shock to many, D'Angelo Russell was not surprised by it.

Appearing on the latest episode of The Woj Pod with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the 21-year-old admitted that he did not have a clear understanding of what the new Los Angeles Lakers management had planned for his future. He added that he was just waiting for the decision of Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, and company on what they'd do with him, but he continued to put in work to improve his skill set.

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“They didn’t draft me. It’s all different and see you around the league when specifically GMs don’t draft you, they are ready to get rid of you or use you as a tool. I really didn’t know. I had a relationship before Magic was the GM with them. Obviously that changes. I never knew, so I was going in everyday just trying to be tunnel vision with it and keep moving and work hard. Whatever they decided to do with me was whatever.”

Now with the Nets, Russell will have the opportunity to have a fresh start with his new team. Despite not having the ending he had wanted to have with the Lakers, the development in his young career may be the best thing that happened to him, as he will be part of a team that has nowhere else to go but up, and he can contribute without having too much pressure on his shoulders.

After recording their dismal record last season, Russell could be a difference maker in Brooklyn and help them win more games next year to speed up their rebuilding process.