Joining the Bucks? What level is Russell this season?

The Bucks are going to make some trouble again...

The latest report from famous reporter Sam Amico, free agent guard Dangilo Russell is expected to leave the Nets and join the Bucks.

Because of Lillard's Achilles tendon injury, the Bucks' point guard does need reinforcement, but, Russell? At least this season, this is really not a good choice.

This season, Russell has played 29 games for the Lakers, including 19 substitutes, averaging 26.3 minutes per game. This is the season with Russell's most substitutes since his rookie, and his playing time is the lowest in the past seven seasons.

The chances of playing are getting fewer and fewer, and Russell's data naturally declined, averaging only 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. In comparison, last season, Russell averaged 18.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game.

scores and assists declined, after all, time has decreased, but Russell's efficiency has also declined, with a shooting percentage of 41.5%, a three-point shooting percentage of 33.3%, and a real shooting percentage of 53.7%.

Also as a comparison, Russell's three statistics last season: shooting percentage of 45.6%, three-point shooting percentage of 41.5%, and real shooting percentage of 58.8%.

Due to poor performance and the forward line needs to be strengthened, the Lakers sent it to the Nets before entering 2025.

The Nets are no strangers to Russell. This is where he was selected as the All-Star. Therefore, many fans are looking forward to Russell playing another spring in Brooklyn.

However, unfortunately, Russell not only did not play better, but his performance even continued to decline compared to the Lakers.

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29 games played for the Nets, Russell started 26 games, averaging 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. According to the basic data, the scoring and assist data have indeed improved, and the ball usage rate has also increased from 21.2% to 24.6%.

But his offensive efficiency got worse, shooting only 36.7%, three-point shooting percentage 29.7%, and real shooting percentage 50.8%.

For comparison, another Russell, Westbrook is always said to be inefficient, but Westbrook's real hit rate this season is 53.2%, and there is only one season in his career that the real hit rate is lower than this number.

In addition to the decline in offensive efficiency, Russell's performance on the defensive end was not very good. He averaged 11.1 shots per game throughout the season, and his opponent's shooting percentage increased by 2.4%. Imagine that after Lillard returns, the Eastern Conference team was ecstatic.

Only talk about Russell. Regarding defense, Lakers fans who have experienced the 2023 and 2024 playoffs may have a deeper feeling, and the reason why Redick will put him on the bench this season is somewhat because Russell's defense is not outstanding enough.

and, there are two more points to be said:

1. Russell's inefficiency is not just this year. In fact, for a long time after entering the league, he was a defender with poor offensive efficiency. Until the 22-23 season, when he was in the contract year, he played the most efficient year in his career with the Timberwolves. At that time, his three-point ability improved by leaps and bounds, and his shooting percentage evolved from 34% in the previous year to 39%, and his real shooting percentage reached 60.4%. This situation continued until the 2023-24 season.

In other words, Russell's career efficiency is only two years old. This season, he may just return to his original level. Russell may rebound again in the future, but it is more likely to maintain an inefficient state.

2. Russell's ability to make people doubt the Lakers' two playoff trips, facing the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, his performance was disappointing, with a total of 25 points in 31 shots and was once DNP.

In the first round of last season, Russell was not in good shape. He could score 23 points in 7 of 11 three-pointers in a single game, or he could score 0 of 7 points in a single game without a single game. Relying on three-pointers and instability are his biggest characteristics.

It should be noted that the Bucks now have a nerve knife with extremely unstable state - yes, it is Kuzma, who averaged 14.5 points per game this year, but in five games in the playoffs, he scored less than double points in four games, averaged only 5.8 points per game, shooting percentage of 34.3%, and three-point shooting percentage of 20.0%.

If Russell joins the Bucks and joins Kuzma, you can imagine what kind of pressure Antetokounmpo needs to face.

At this point, I admire Antetokounmpo very much. After the Bucks season, because of their lack of draft picks, poor salary conditions, and aging core, the outside world generally believes that Antetokounmpo will leave. However, judging from the latest news, Antetokounmpo seems to be more inclined to stay in the team.

Back to Russell, it is worth mentioning that Russell is only 29 years old now. He is still at the peak of a player, but his condition was too bad last season. His value may drop a lot during the offseason. Perhaps it is difficult to get an annual salary of tens of millions. If it is the basic salary, then the Bucks seem to be not allowed?