The Los Angeles Lakers selected D'Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick knowing he would need time to grow. Rarely are point guards ready out of the box, and rarely is potential as tantalizing as his. That's just one of the reasons why, when it came down to picking between a plug-and-play big man in Jahlil Okafor and the dream of what Russell can become, the Lakers decided it was time to invest in a new point guard.
Russell's since been jostled from the starting lineup, to a reserve role, to sitting out of the closing minutes in close games, all to come back to the starting lineup as the season comes to a close.