D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, and the eight-year veteran was at the end of his four-year, $117.32 million contract; Sportsbooks have now released odds for his next team in the upcoming 2023 season. Check out the next team’s odds below.
According to the betonline Sports betting, the Charlotte Hornets (+300) is the betting favorite for signing the All-Star guard, followed by the Atlanta Hawks (+400), Memphis Grizzlies (+500), and Dallas Mavericks (+600). Is Russell considering playing for the Guandong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)?
D’Angelo Russell Next Team Odds If Not Lakers In 2023 NBA Offseason: Hornets Top List As Favorite Bet
Charlotte Hornets (+300)
First, the Charlotte Hornets are the favorite to sign D’Angelo Russell this offseason. Assuming the backcourt remains the same, adding Russell to the Hornets roster along with Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball would be an automatic boost. However, Charlotte is coming off a disastrous season. This depends on Russell’s goals.
The Hornets went 27-55 and 14th overall in the Eastern Conference standings last season 2022-23 under head coach Steve Clifford. They took a step back after finishing 43-39 and 10th in the conference in the 2021-22 season. GM Mitch Kupchak fired then-head coach James Borrego. Of course, Kupchak’s decision to hire Clifford was a mixed bag.
(+400) Atlanta Hawks
If the Atlanta Hawks are unwilling to trade Trae Young this season, Atlanta could be the perfect place for D’Angelo Russell. While the future of John Collins is unknown, Dejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter are still strong players. Not to mention, the Hawks are in better shape now that head coach Nate McMillian was fired on February 21st.
Five days later, Quinn Snyder became the organization’s 32nd head coach in franchise history. Under Snyder, Atlanta went 10-11 to finish the 2022-23 season. Atlanta clinched the No. 7 seed in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. But the Hawks lost in six games to the second seed Boston Celtics in the first round series. Therefore, a Lakers guard can sign with the Hawks.
Memphis Grizzlies (+500)
Similar to the aforementioned teams, the Memphis Grizzlies have an unpredictable future ahead. Ja Morant is one of the best players in the league, but the All-Star has already been suspended twice for being branded with a firearm in multiple social media videos. Not much is known whether or not his NBA career is in jeopardy.
So, the Grizzlies might be after D’Angelo Russell to play alongside Dillon Brooks, Luke Kennard, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, and other superstars. In the 2022-23 season, Memphis went 51-31 and finished second in the Western Conference standings. They went on to lose in six games against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round series.