Late in December, the Brooklyn Nets traded Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Maxwell Lewis, D’Angelo Russell, and three future second-round picks. Russell, 29, now in his second stint with the Nets, is currently averaging 12.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game combined with the Lakers and Brooklyn. However, as they plan for the future, the Nets retaining D’Angelo Russell may not be the wisest decision.

The Nets are currently tied for 11th place in the Eastern Conference with a 21-40 record. With just a little over a month left in the regular season, fans want to forget this year. Narrow losses, blowouts, and trade rumors have marred the 2024-25 season.

Russell’s return has been one of the few highlights for fans, bringing back memories of his first stint with the franchise from 2017 to 2019. Over the years, Russell’s career journey has taken him to teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer when he concludes his two-year, $36 million deal.

In January, Russell expressed his satisfaction with being back with the Nets. He told Lucas Kaplan of the Nets Daily, “Dude, I’ll never take being able to play free basketball like this for granted, again. This is style and a play that — obviously we got the best performance team as well. They keep guys fresh, they keep guys in shape.” He continued, “They keep them prepared for the minutes and the load that they’re about to play in.”

Despite Russell expressing how he feels about playing “free basketball,” the Nets have ample cap space this summer that they can spend on the upcoming 2025 free agency class or the 31 draft picks they can use on the trade market.

Nets general manager Sean Marks will face several critical roster decisions after the season. If the Nets do not make the playoffs, they could land a lottery pick. This could allow them to potentially draft Cooper Flagg from Duke or Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper from Rutgers. Meanwhile, the entire league will closely monitor a potential Kevin Durant trade this summer. Although the Nets are unlikely to pursue Durant, they might bid for him due to his past contributions. With 31 draft picks, the organization could leverage them to win a bid for Durant.

The Nets should exclude Russell from their future plans because of his high salary demands. Additionally, the franchise prefers to focus on a younger core. Although he could mentor younger players, it would be awkward if an upcoming guard took his starting spot. This change would relegate Russell to the bench, reducing his minutes. Russell experienced benching with the Lakers due to poor performance and miscommunication. Therefore, repeating this with the Nets seems counterproductive, especially considering his positive record with the organization he respects.

Although Russell is having a strong performance, the Nets should part ways and focus on rebuilding. He wants to return, but prioritizing youth is crucial for the team’s future. Letting go of Russell might be their best move.