D'Angelo Russell
Mar 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell (1) at press conference related to forward Nick Young (0) at Staples Center. Reuters/Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers could miss out on top free agents this summer after D’Angelo Russell’s snitching of teammate Nick Young.

Russell has been at the centre of controversy in LA after the rookie, for some reason, privately taped his conversation with teammate Nick Young. The video went public and left some of the Lakers roster in disappointment with Russell’s immaturity, forming trust issues within the team, according to Baxter Holmes and Marc Stein of ESPN.

“Sources told ESPN.com that trust in Russell from some teammates is eroding after a video surfaced in the past week that shows the 20-year-old former Ohio State standout and No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 draft recording a private conversation between Russell and teammate Nick Young in which Young does not appear to realize he’s being taped,” the report disclosed.

The Lakers are heading into the summer with plans of pursuing top-free agents to bring the franchise back into the title picture. But with Russell’s recent antics, there is a chance that free agents like Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan would avoid signing with the Lakers. Moreover, Los Angeles may even lose their own free agents, who would not want to be in the same locker room as Russell.

“At a recent breakfast meeting, one source said, no Laker would sit with Russell at his table,” ESPN added. “The source added that, in another instance, Russell came into the locker room and sat next to guard Lou Williams, who got up and walked away.”

There are also rumours floating in the league that the Lakers may consider trading Russell, although it is unlikely that the Purple and Gold would move him over some locker room strain. But according to Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE, one NBA executive thinks the Boston Celtics could form a package that would “pique” LA’s interest in trading the No. 2 overall pick of the 2015 draft.

The Lakers’ offseason focus should be in rebuilding and refining their roster, but Russell’s recent antic may have given LA more things to do than pursue top free agents.

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