Nets rebuild could come full circle with D'Angelo Russell acquisition

D'Angelo Russell has been floated as a potential trade chip for the Los Angeles Lakers. His second tenure with L.A. hasn't gone as smoothly as he likely hoped. 

His fit between LeBron James and Anthony Davis is best described as clunky. Still, there have been some signs of life from Russell in recent weeks, but it may be too little, too late.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Brooklyn Nets could hold interest in reuniting with their former guard.

“If they do make a deal, it would likely be for a guard — former Nets All-Star D’Angelo Russell has been among those names floated,” Windhorst wrote. “With an expiring $20.3 million deal, [Spencer] Dinwiddie is the likely fulcrum in any big move before the deadline.”

Russell spent two seasons with the Nets between 2017 and 2019. During that period, he played some of the best basketball of his career. His only All-Star selection came during his second season with the franchise. 

The Nets need a legitimate guard. They need someone to control the ball-handling duties and allow star forward Mikal Bridges to thrive as a scorer and elite defender. 

Russell knows the franchise. He knows the fan base. He would likely welcome a move back to New York, where he was once seen as a top guard in the Eastern Conference.

For Brooklyn, reacquiring Russell would be a full-circle moment. He was part of the deal that saw Kevin Durant join the franchise in 2019. He was the first domino to fall as the Nets looked to build a star-studded contender. Things didn't work out for either party. 

Moving to bring Russell back into the fold would be interesting. He is undoubtedly a more well-rounded player now. Yet, he hasn't hit the heights he did under Kenny Atkinson during his two seasons with the franchise. 

Sometimes, it's better not to rehash the past. Yet, given the Nets' current roster construction and their need for a guard, Russell could find himself landing in an ideal situation for the second time in his career. 

A move to Brooklyn would likely be welcomed by all parties involved, including the team's fan base.