History has a way of repeating itself in the NBA, and for D’Angelo Russell, that history now includes being traded between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets—twice.
In a rare and curious twist, the Lakers and Nets struck a deal on December 29, 2024, sending Russell back to Brooklyn nearly seven years after their first trade involving him. The details of the deal:
Trade Breakdown
- Lakers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton
- Nets receive: D’Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, three future second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031)
The move marks a déjà vu moment for both franchises. In 2017, the Lakers dealt Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and a draft pick that became Kyle Kuzma. That trade, at the time, helped Los Angeles clear salary cap space to pursue LeBron James in free agency. Meanwhile, Brooklyn acquired a promising young guard to build around.
Now, in 2024, Russell finds himself in familiar territory—departing Los Angeles for Brooklyn once again. It’s an uncommon occurrence in league history, raising the question: How many players have been traded between the same two teams twice?
A Rare NBA Phenomenon
Russell joins an exclusive club that includes Marc Gasol and Tim Thomas—two players who also found themselves moved between the same franchises on two separate occasions.
Marc Gasol: Lakers to Grizzlies, Twice
2008 Trade:
- Lakers receive: Pau Gasol, 2010 second-round pick (Devin Ebanks)
- Grizzlies receive: Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, rights to Marc Gasol, 2008 and 2010 first-round picks (Donté Greene, Greivis Vásquez)
2021 Trade:
- Lakers receive: Draft rights to Wang Zhelin
- Grizzlies receive: Marc Gasol, 2024 second-round pick
The first trade shaped a championship dynasty in Los Angeles, giving Kobe Bryant an All-Star running mate in Pau Gasol en route to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The Grizzlies, however, ended up with a franchise cornerstone in Marc Gasol, whose defensive presence defined the team’s “Grit and Grind” era.
Tim Thomas: Knicks to Bulls, Twice
2005 Trade:
- Bulls receive: Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson, Mike Sweetney, multiple draft picks (LaMarcus Aldridge, Joakim Noah, Kyrylo Fesenko, Jon Brockman)
- Knicks receive: Eddy Curry, Antonio Davis, 2007 first-round pick (Wilson Chandler)
2008 Trade:
- Bulls receive: Tim Thomas, Jerome James, Anthony Roberson
- Knicks receive: Larry Hughes
The 2005 trade was one of the most lopsided in NBA history, with Chicago parlaying its draft picks into future stars while New York struggled with the inconsistency of Curry.
History Repeats in the NBA
Trades in the NBA often come down to cap space, roster construction, or front-office changes. But rarely do they send the same player back and forth between the same franchises years apart. Russell’s case adds another chapter to this unusual pattern.
For the Lakers, the move signals a shift in their approach, shedding Russell in favor of more defensive-minded depth. For the Nets, it’s another roll of the dice on a familiar face. And for Russell, it’s another opportunity—one that just happens to look a lot like the last one.
In the NBA, some faces never really leave—sometimes, they just come back.
BY YOONJAE JUNG, ETHAN NARCISO [jungyoonjae@koreadaily.com, ethannarciso@gmail.com]
