If the Los Angeles Lakers unceremoniously exiling D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets in order to rid themselves of Timofey Mozgov’s onerous contract wasn’t enough of a slight for the former No. 2 overall pick, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson kicking him on the way out the door should have done the trick.
“D’Angelo is an excellent player,” Johnson told reporters at the Lakers’ practice facility after introducing Russell’s replacement, Lonzo Ball, last year. “He has the talent to be an All-Star.