D’Angelo Russell ‘kind of expected’ his trade from Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers’ trade of D’Angelo Russell last offseason came as a shock to many but apparently not as much to Russell himself.

In an interview with The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears that ran on Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets guard discussed the Lakers sending him packing.

“I kind of expected it,” said Russell. “I feel like when a lot of guys get traded, you kind of expect it. In L.A., everything is magnified. This being the topic of discussion, it usually happens.

“Nah. Hell no,” Russell added when asked if he was upset by it. “I knew it was a business and I expected it. I was already two weeks ahead of being upset, being past that. I was more like, I wanted to go somewhere where I could take advantage of what I bring to the table, and Brooklyn was a great place.”

Russell was selected No. 2 overall by the Lakers in 2015 but was shown the door after just two seasons. Still just 22 years old, he is having a strong debut season in Brooklyn (though he has missed 34 games due to injury).

Of course, when you consider all the drama that Russell caused while he was still with the Lakers, maybe that is why he saw the writing on the wall.