D'Angelo Russell may end up being a very good NBA player. But on his current trajectory, he's going to endure a plethora of criticism before he gets there. And that's entirely the fault of the Lakers management.
Russell continues to be the bust of the top-4 picks in the 2015 NBA draft, averaging 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Lakers through their first 10 games.
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He played 21 minutes Sunday night in Los Angeles' 97-85 victory over the Pistons at Staples Center, scoring nine points with five rebounds and two assists. According to ESPN's +/- chart, however, the Lakers were minus-7 with Russell in the game.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Kobe Bryant played 36 minutes, scoring 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting. He had nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Lakers were plus-14 with him in the game.
Byron Scott Speeding D'Angelo Russell's Demise
Coach Byron Scott has said on multiple occasions that he wants to win now, rather than build for the future. That's why Bryant played seven more minutes than what the two agreed to before the season -- and why Bryant did not play Monday night against Phoenix.
The win moved the Lakers to 2-8 and puts them in a position to avoid the top-3 spots in the 2016 NBA draft lottery, albeit very early in the season. But they are nowhere close to a playoff-caliber team.
If Scott is not interested in rebuilding, why did executive vice president Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak draft Russell? They thought Kristaps Porzingis was a project, so why not draft the most game-ready player available, which was Jahlil Okafor? Or better yet -- why did they not make a trade with Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins? So what if the Lakers might have had to give up Julius Randle or Jordan Clarkson? They wanted to win now, right?
It's the same confusing approach the Lakers used when they hired Mike D'Antoni, architect of the seven-second offense, over Phil Jackson to take the reins of an aged Los Angeles team that was built more for the plodding, triangle offense.
What good does it do the Lakers to win 25 games this year by wearing out Kobe? Next year, the team is going to have to rely on its young stars, whose growth will be stunted by surrendering minutes to Bryant and Metta World Peace.
"... I do think a coaching change would help," ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton said. "Scott has consistently said that his focus is on winning games rather than developing players, and that doesn't make sense for a franchise that's going nowhere this season and needs its young prospects to break through to convince free agents to sign on."
But before a change on the court takes place, a change in the front office is required.
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