Brooklyn Nets point guard D'Angelo Russell is not taking any chances as he enters one of the most important offseasons of his young NBA career. According to the 23-year-old himself, he no longer intends to play any pickup ball this summer, saying that in his mind, it is just not safe to do so:
Brooklyn Nets’ restricted free agent, D’Angelo Russell says he’s done playing pickup backetball because “it ain’t safe, it ain’t safe.” @ProCamps @Dloading pic.twitter.com/pQNFTOTSFq
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) June 23, 2019
Russell is set for a big payday this summer as he hits restricted free agency. The Nets will hold the rights to match any deal that is offered to the 6-foot-5 point guard, but at the moment, it is not certain if the team will be willing to do so.
Incoming unrestricted free agent Kyrie Irving is believed to be on his way to Brooklyn, and with him in the picture, there will be a bit of a logjam at the point guard position. Let's not forget that Spencer Dinwiddie, one of the candidates for Most Improved Player of the Year, is also still in the mix. The Nets might just opt to let Russell walk if they sign Irving and want to use resources on the rest of the roster.
For his part, D'Angelo Russell is making sure that he remains injury-free. Any type of injury at this point would almost certainly have an effect on how free agency pans out for him, so we definitely understand where he is coming from here.
Russell is coming off a career season in which he averaged 21.1 points, 7.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He made his first All-Star Game and led the Nets to the postseason.
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