Lakers' Russell exercises $18.7M option

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell is activating his $18.7-million player option to return for the 2024-25 season, he confirmed to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Russell is coming off his first full season with the Lakers since a 2023 trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves restored him to the team that drafted him.

Russell averaged 18 points on 45.6% shooting from the floor and 41.5% from 3-point range last year. A streaky shooter by nature, his numbers dipped in the playoffs and he became a lightning rod for criticism as the Lakers fell in the first round to the Denver Nuggets.

Los Angeles signed Russell to a two-year, $36-million contract as a free agent last offseason, but gave him a player option for the second year. Russell was on track to become one of the top scorers on the open market this summer before deciding to opt in.

The 28-year-old started 69 games last season and came off the bench seven other times. He started all five postseason games.

Los Angeles drafted Russell with the No. 2 pick of the 2015 draft. Immaturity issues plagued the Ohio State product early on, and led the Lakers to trade him to the Brooklyn Nets after only two seasons. Russell spent two years in Brooklyn before a one-year pitstop with the Golden State Warriors, then spent three-plus years in Minnesota before heading back to the Lakers.

Russell made the All-Star team in 2019 as a member of the Nets. He owns career averages of 17.8 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds.

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes also picked up a player option, cementing his return for $2.4 million, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania. Hayes, who previously played with new Lakers coach JJ Redick on the New Orleans Pelicans, averaged 4.3 points over 70 appearances last season.