It started with the Lakers, traveled through the East and West, and ended back with the Lakers. Ideally, that would have been the perfect scenario for D’Angelo Russell. However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka didn’t let that happen. After the calls for trade grew louder, he finally made a move, and DLo was sent back on the same journey once again. But what led to such a sacrifice? The answer is LeBron James.

The prediction didn’t come from a fan’s perspective but from someone who has been there (in the NBA) and done that with a championship to show for it – Jeff Teague. D’Angelo Russell’s move to the Brooklyn Nets has been an ongoing topic of discussion on many leading talk shows, and being one with high viewership, the Club 520 Podcast couldn’t miss addressing it. And with that, came some bitter revelations.

“He’s free,” declared Teague. “He’s out of that LeBron mode or whatever. He doesn’t play well with LeBron, man.” That statement is enough to drop jaws. Explaining his view the 36-year-old said, “I mean, he had a decent year last year. Shot the ball well, but he’s one of those guys that need the ball in his hand, be able to create, play free, and that’s what he’s gonna be able to do in Brooklyn.”

Obviously, LA’s strategy has been to run the play through LeBron James and Anthony Davis. So, Russell having the ball in his hands for too long wasn’t really an option. Teague believed DLo’s chemistry with LeBron didn’t quite click. Now that he’s out of the 20-time All-Star’s shadow, the 28-year-old is poised to reach greater heights. “I promise you, he gonna average 20 points back in Brooklyn,” he boldly stated.

He’s currently averaging 12.4 points, but if he can make the jump to 20, it’ll prove Teague’s point. Clearly, for the former guard, the trade was a successful one. However, some didn’t quite agree with what the Lakers received in return.

Harsh truth behind D’Angelo Russell’s trade exposed

ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the internet with his tweet, “The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed on a trade sending D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.” While the Lakers nation gave the trade a thumbs up, former Mavericks star Chandler Parsons didn’t think highly of it.

When asked about his opinion on Run It Back, the 36-year-old said, “It’s probably the least interesting thing that happened all week in my opinion.” And that wasn’t all. He went on to call it “a lateral move.”

It’s not that he doesn’t like Dorian Finney-Smith. He clarified that he loves him and respects his 3-and-D skills. However, he added, “I don’t know if he kinda moves the needle for the Lakers. I don’t know if he puts them in this new kinda category of contention this year. I think D’Angelo Russell’s kinda time there just ran its course. I think just bringing in a new fresh face, mixing it up a little bit.” Chandler feels that would have made things work for the Lakers, who currently hold an 18-13 record.

Well, what’s done is done for now. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the new acquisitions work out and how head coach JJ Redick adjusts his strategies.