The Los Angeles Lakers spent the offseason as one of the vital inactive groups within the league. They selected to not make any commerce round D’Angelo Russell regardless of robust rumors, and return with a really comparable roster to final season. On the alternative coast, the New York Knicks have been among the many most energetic groups within the league this offseason.
Their first huge transfer was to cope with the Brooklyn Nets to land Mikal Bridges. And simply days earlier than coaching camp started, they made a shock cope with Minnesota Timberwolves to land Karl-Anthony Cities for a package deal together with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Cities now joins Bridges, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart to type one of many league’s most formidable beginning 5.
Russell performed alongside Cities throughout his time with the Timberwolves and the 2 developed a detailed bond. So following the commerce information, Russell took to social media to clarify how he thinks cities might be affected by this huge transfer:
KAT goes to be an All-Star #Proceed
-D’Angelo Russell (@Dloading) September 30, 2024
Cities is in a a lot better state of affairs for his fashion of play than he was with the Timberwolves. Taking part in alongside Rudy Gobert for important minutes has compelled him out of his pure defensive place, and the Knicks have integrated a fringe protection that will not drive Cities to constantly be a shot blocker.
Offensively, his five-section talent set matches completely with the unselfish taking part in types of Hart, Brunson, Bridges and Anunoby. Final season’s Knicks typically bought slowed down in isolation play with Brunson and Randle, however the additions of Bridges and Cities ought to make for a extra fluid offense.
Possibly Cities can flip this into an All-Star look, as Russell predicts. This could be Cities’ fifth choice, together with 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024.
D’Angelo Russell apologizes for unprofessionalism in 2023-24
Though it wasn’t requested, D’Angelo Russell took the time throughout Lakers Media Day to apologize for the instances he felt like he demonstrated unprofessional conduct final season. This largely refers to how he reacted when commerce rumors started to floor.
“Actually, I feel I actually needed to apologize within the sense of displaying an absence of professionalism typically,” Russell stated at Lakers media day. “Typically displaying an absence of notion of the group first. So for me, I simply assume I hold that maturity and professionalism all year long, irrespective of the ups and downs.
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