The Los Angeles Lakers have finalized a significant trade with the Brooklyn Nets, sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks to New York in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, as reported by Shams Charania.
In this deal, the Lakers are parting ways with two players who are nearing free agency. Russell, who is in the final year of his $18 million contract, and Lewis, who is set to be a restricted free agent after the season with a team option worth $1.891 million, are both expendable in Los Angeles’ eyes. Brooklyn, currently in the midst of a rebuilding phase, has acquired these assets with an eye on the future.
On the other side, the Lakers are receiving more medium-term assets. Finney-Smith, who is earning nearly $15 million this season, has one more year left on his contract with a player option for the 2025-26 season. Milton, who is under contract for two more years with an annual salary of $3 million, brings stability to the Lakers’ backcourt. Both players offer more certainty for the Lakers as they aim to bolster their roster for the upcoming seasons.
Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has been a solid contributor for the Lakers, averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes per game this season. This trade sees him return to Brooklyn, where he previously played for two seasons (2017-19) and made an All-Star appearance in 2019. The 28-year-old guard will now look to help the Nets as they continue to reshape their team.
Finney-Smith, 31, has been a key player for the Nets since being acquired in the trade that sent Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2023. This season, he’s averaging 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, contributing both offensively and defensively for Brooklyn.
Shake Milton, 28, has seen a more limited role with the Nets but has still contributed solidly, averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in his first season with the team. Lewis, a 22-year-old second-round pick from 2023, has had little playing time, averaging just 4.1 minutes in seven appearances.
This trade shifts the dynamics for both teams, with Brooklyn adding depth and future assets, while the Lakers secure more stability for the immediate future.
