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Lakers rumors: Los Angeles can’t have both Lillard and Russell

By Keith Rivas

January 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) controls the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Lakers rumors about interest from Damian Lillard come to fruition, it spells the end for D’Angelo Russell.

Over the last week, Damian Lillard make Lakers rumors buzz with a tweet replying to a question about teams he’d consider outside of Portland. If the Blazers moved on from him, he noted that he’d consider Utah and Los Angeles.

This opens up the question again of what the team should do with their 2015 second overall pick. If the team goes with Lonzo Ball this summer, they’ll have a little time to adjust and see if he fits well at shooting guard.

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But if not, it could be time to move on entirely.

Also, Lillard is a much more reasonable target that people might assume. He’s not going to be a free agent for several years, and by then Portland might decide to go in a different direction.

In that same time span, Los Angeles will have more than enough opportunities to evaluate their young core. Trades, releases, and rotation moves should all be well set in stone by then.

The lack of any sort of good relationship was evident in an altercation between the two this past season. Given what Russell had to go through in his rookie season after leaking personal issues of Nick Young, trying to pair him and Lillard together makes no sense.

Already a proven star in the league, a chase at Lillard means a serious push at a title that season. Brandon Ingram will have several years between now and then to emerge as a star, while Ivica Zubac can hopefully step up as the next best big man.

Next: Lakers Are Dark Horse To Steal Klay Thompson

It doesn’t matter how hard they try here, though, because Lillard doesn’t seem like he’d ever share the court or team with Russell.

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