Despite Sunday's win over Portland, the social media universe was filled with photo after photo and clip after clip of sad, sad Lakers players. Guys who didn't seem to be happy they won.At the center of the conversation, of course, was D'Angelo Russell.There was the picture of him "crying" on the bench. The on-court interview with sideline reporter Mike Trudell. His postgame media session, in which he seemed down and introspective after scoring a team-high 34 points. The "it'll be ok, we can still be friends" shoulder rub from Austin Reaves.Russell is at the core of every discussion about trades. He's the name everyone has assumed would be dealt once the terms of his contract were reported. So it gets to a few big questions:
Should the Lakers move him? And for what?
Should anyone expect that this stretch of time for him, ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline, would be anything but unpleasant?
The answer to #1 is dependent on the return, and at the very least needs to be done with a full understanding of the skill set that needs to be replaced. #2? No normal athlete with any pride in their craft or their value (Russell has both) would be immune to the pressures of the pre-deadline period.Nobody needs to weep for D'Lo, but it's also a good idea not to get in the habit of reading into every single still photo or short video clip, especially when ultimately it's done to confirm existing hopes/biases.But should the Lakers move him for Atlanta's Dejounte Murray, there could be a less-discussed silver lining in it for LA.HOSTS: Andy and Brian KamenetzkySEGMENT 1: Is it a no-brainer to trade D'Angelo Russell?SEGMENT 2: D'Lo and the "Vibes" police.SEGMENT 3: The pressures of the deadline get to every player if there name is in the rumors.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GrammarlyWhen it comes to writing, Grammarly is there to support you from start to finish. With one click, you can easily and easily brainstorm, rewrite, and reply with suggestions based on your context and goals. Go to grammarly.com/PODCAST to download for FREE today. HungryrootHungryroot is the easiest way to get fresh, high-quality food delivered to your door. They’ve got healthy groceries and simple recipes, all in one place. Just go to Hungryroot.com/LOCKEDON, to get 40% off your first delivery and get your free veggies. LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.FanDuelRight now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY in BONUS BETS – GUARANTEED when you place a FIVE DOLLAR BET. Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices