And while taking back Dorian Finney-Smith, Cam Johnson, and Mikal Bridges isn’t a bad return at all, it’s clear that they need to add more firepower, especially considering they still owe the Houston Rockets several draft picks and pick swaps.

With that in mind, the team should be quite aggressive in their pursuit of mid-level NBAtalent in free agency. Here, we’re going to let you know about three ‘gettable’ players they should try and sign.

NBA Rumors: 3 Potential Targets For The Brooklyn Nets

3. Gabe Vincent

Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat can turn nearly every player into a rotation-caliber kind of guy. That was the case with Gabe Vincent, who’s given them plenty of valuable minutes in his tenure with the team.

But Vincent is set to pursue a bigger pay and role now that he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. He would be their second-best playmaker behind Spencer Dinwiddie, assuming Ben Simmons is hurt again.

2. Dillon Brooks

The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly told Dillon Brooks that they don’t intend to bring him back under any circumstances. So, the trouble-making guard/forward will have to find a new home.

Brooks didn’t shoot the ball well or smartly in the playoffs, but he’s more than capable of knocking down the three-ball. More than that, he’s a solid wing-stopper that should be available at a discount.

1. D’Angelo Rusell

D’Angelo Russell recently said that he’s not a true point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, so he might not be pleased with that off-the-ball role. His best days came at Barclays Center, so why not orchestrate a reunion?

Russell may never live up to the expectations of being a No. 2 pick. But he was an All-Star caliber player in Brooklyn, and he’d give them a solid second option behind Mikal Bridges for years to come.

James was playing at an MVP level and ass the focal point of the team’s offense. They’ve struggled vastly without him, and they don’t have a lot of room for error with just 20 games left in the regular season.

TheLakers need to bring their A-Game if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive without their best player for the next few weeks, and these guys could be their biggest factors going forward.

NBA News: 3 Lakers Players That Must Step Up Now

3. Anthony Davis

Let’s start with the obvious here. Anthony Davis needs to be the guy and their offensive focalpoint. He cannot hide anymore; he was supposed to lead this team even with LeBron around, and that hasn’t happened.

There’s no doubt that Davis is one of the best players in the league. His impact on both ends of the floor is nearly unmatched when he’s healthy, but his character has also been an issue as of late.

2. D’Angelo Russell

With James out of the picture, D’Angelo Russell will need to fulfill that prophecy and become the star combo guard the Lakers thought he’d be when he first entered the league. He needs to be way more aggressive.

Russell was an All-Star in Brooklyn, and he’s proven that he can score in bunches when he gets into a rhythm. He cannot settle anymoreand will need to take a step forward as one of their primary bucket-getters.

1. Jarred Vanderbilt

And last but not least, the Lakers’ playoff hopes might as well hang on Jarred Vanderbilt’s shoulders. He’s not a star by any means, but he’s been the most impactful player for the Lakers— outside of LeBron— since joining the team.

Vanderbilt can play and defend multiple positions. His length, lateral quickness, and athleticism make him a nightmare on switches. He’s also an efficient shooter from all three levels, so he could be the ultimate X-Factor for this team going forward.

D’Angelo Russell is one of the many players that landed in Los Angeles this month, and it’s certainly special for him given his past with the team. The guard had been selected second overall in the 2015 draft, but was traded only two years later as he fell short of expectations.

However, the Ohio State product eventually won a second chance with the Purple and Gold. Team legend Magic Johnson, who led the front office when Russell was sent to Brooklyn, believes the guard has grown a lot these years.

Lakers news: D’Angelo Russell has Magic Johnson’s blessing

“I think D’Angelo has really grown and matured,” Johnson said, via Bryan Kalbroskyof USA Today. “He can score the basketball. He can pass the basketball. He doesn’t turn it over a lot. That’s what I like about him, too.

“That pick-and-roll with Anthony Davis is going to be special. You have to pick your poison for what you try to do whether it’s Russell coming off the PnR or Anthony Davis rolling to the basket and they’ll have some more time playing with LeBron. If the Lakers can get in, and I think they will, nobody is going to want to play them. That’s for sure.”

The Lakers look much better since the trade deadline, and Russell is one of the reasons behind their improvement. The teamhas plenty of work to do in its playoff push, though, so we’ll se how impactful Russell and the other additions canbe.

Russell broke out in Brooklyn and finally showed glimpses of the All-Star guard he could be. That success was short-lived due to another exit, and he’s failed to go back to that form ever since leaving Barclays Center.

But now that he’s come full circle and is back wearing the purple and gold, Russell might as well do more than enough to fulfill the prophecy and help the team win an NBA Championship. He feels like they’re capable of that right now.

D’Angelo Russell Talks About Playing With LeBron James And Anthony Davis

“I think it’s just easy, super easy,” Russell said of playing with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. “Those guys play the right way the majority of the time. When your two best players are willing passers, selfless out there, and trying to play basketball out there. So, for me, I’d always want to be in that position.”

“I’m usually that guy making that pass to the open guy, so to have LeBron out there knowing that he’s capable of doing it sounds like another point guard out there. I always say this. AD has so much gravity when he’s on the floor. It’s just about how I play with him and the guys is the main focus for me,” Russell added.

Russell may never live up to the expectations of being the second-overall pick, and that’s fine; that’s not what the Lakers need of him right now. But he has the potential to make a huge impact offensively for this team and redeeming himself in the eyes of Lakers fans once and for all.

In the first 10 games of the season, Devin Booker has averaged 21 points, with 4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Those stats have helped to place the Suns as 1stin the Pacific Division and 2nd in the Western Conference.A good performance overall, and for him, the highest points per game by far within his team.

For example, in October, Booker had 4 games with more than 30 points made, while in November, he has pulled up at least 25 points in fourout of five games so far. He is literally carrying his team to that second place right now.

Devin Booker pass upJames Harden in a 3-point record

Against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Devin Booker got his 1,000 career three-pointer with the Phoenix Suns. He was placed as the 3rd youngest player to do so. Booker clinched this record as a26-year, and 12 days old.Before him, James Harden pulled up his1,000 career three-pointerwhen he was 26 years, and 167 days old in 2016.

In fact, there are two players who registered 1,000 career three-pointers in the league, who were younger than Devin Booker. First off,Bradley Beal made his 1,000career 3-pointer whenhe was25 years, and223 days old. This record made him the youngest player to do so.

Last season,D’Angelo Russell placed his name below the Washington Wizards’ player. On March 4, 2022, the Timberwolves’ player made two three-pointers to clinch his 1,000 career 3-pointer. He was26 years, 10 days old.So, Booker missed the 3rd place just by 2 days.

The team clearly needs to make a move for a point guard, but there are not many names out there who could satisfy its need at the position. Of course, the ideal scenario would be to land Donovan Mitchell.

After suffering another early elimination from the playoffs with the Jazz, Spida has been linked with a potential departure. Even so, he has three more years under contract and Utah will probably not negotiate him. Therefore, the Knicks have reportedly set their sights on a ‘lower-level’ option.

Rumor: Knicks have an alternative to Donovan Mitchell

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the New York Knicks could turn their attention to Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell as an alternative to Mitchell, who seems an unlikely trade target at this point.

“As the Knicks work down the list of their point guard options, rival executives have pointed to Minnesota Timberwolves starter D’Angelo Russell as a potential lower-level trade target,” Fischer wrote. “New York’s front office recently added former Minnesota president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who once chased Russell in free agency and later traded Andrew Wiggins to Golden State for the creative point guard.

Mitchell would certainly be a more significant upgrade to the Knicks’ roster, but the Jazz don’t seem to be willing to let him leave anytime soon. So New York might have to look for other options, which will probably not be as exciting as Spida.

While that prompted plenty of mockery and mixed reactions on social media, it sure proved one thing: The players care. They want to win, and God knows the fans have been through way too much already.

With that in mind and following a heartbreaking first-round exit, the Timberwolves will most likely look to improve an already promising roster. Notably, that might as well mean parting ways with D’Angelo Russell.

NBA Rumors: Timberwolves Could Trade D’Angelo Russell

“The future of another prominent lefty lead guard in the West is much more uncertain after Minnesota’s first-round exit. D’Angelo Russell wound up on the bench at crunch time in the Timberwolves’ season-ending Game 6 defeat at home to Memphis and averaged just 12.0 points per game on 33.3% shooting in his second career playoff series,“ Marc Stein reported.

“Numerous rival teams expect the Wolves to try to trade Russell this offseason irrespective of Russell’s close relationship with Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns,” Stein added. “Russell, 26, has one season left on his contract at $31.4 million.”

Russell left a lot to be desired towards the end of the year and it’s clear that he needs to be more involved in the offense to be at his best. That won’t happen with Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns touching the ball in four out of five possessions.

He’s failed to live up to the expectations of being a second-overall pick and getting rid of that contract will surely be an uphill battle. Then again, he’s good enough to at least gauge some interest in the market, especially if Minny throws in a pick or a young player to sweeten the deal.