The Brooklyn Nets brought back former guard D’Angelo Russell, and acquired forward Maxwell Lewis and three second round draft picks from the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday in exchange for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton.
Russell rejoins Brooklyn after previously spending two seasons (2017-2019) with the Nets. The 28-year-old has appeared in 29 games (10 starts) for the Lakers this season, recording averages of 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes per game while shooting 41.5% from the field, 33.3% from distance and 84.9% from the free-throw line, according to a press release.
In 600 career games (510 starts) across 10 seasons with the Lakers (2023-2024, 2015-2017), Minnesota (2020-2023), Golden State (2019-2020) and Brooklyn, Russell holds career averages of 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 30 minutes per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, 36.8% from 3-point range and 79.4% from the free-throw line.
Lewis appeared in seven games for the Lakers this season. In 41 career games off the bench for the Lakers across two seasons (2023-24), he has averaged 3.2 minutes per contest.
The 22-year-old has also appeared in 27 career NBA G League regular season games (all starts) for the South Bay Lakers while on assignment the past two seasons, recording averages of 15 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29 minutes per game.
Finney-Smith was originally acquired by the Nets on Feb. 6, 2023, in a trade with Dallas and appeared in 114 games (102 starts) for the Nets across three seasons, recording averages of 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.4 minutes per game.
Milton was acquired by the Nets in a trade with New York on July 6, 2024. He appeared in 27 games (one start) for Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 18.2 minutes per game.
