D’Angelo Russell talks about Nets reunion after Lakers trade

TORONTO – D’Angelo Russell has come full circle, traded from the Lakers to the Nets for the second time. But this time not as a top prospect but as a mature leader.

The point guard – acquired with Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton – met with the Nets in Toronto before Wednesday’s game against the Raptors.

It’s a reunion not only with high school teammate Ben Simmons but with Brooklyn, where he played from 2017 to 2019 and earned his only All-Star berth.

“It’s like you were traded any time before. You have to adapt. So it’s been an adjustment for me, learning about the players, learning about the coaching staff, learning the new ways of Brooklyn,” Russell said. “A lot of things have changed since I’ve been here. So I’m trying to adapt and join right in with these guys.

“Honestly, it’s a good feeling to come back to a place where you feel comfortable, a place where you know the ins and outs a little bit. See some familiar faces. It kind of makes it a little easier to adjust to the process. So I’m grateful for that.”

Russell hadn’t wanted to leave Brooklyn the first time and seemed upset after general manager Sean Marks dealt him to Golden State in a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant.

But at Wednesday morning’s target practice, the former and current Red insists there was no hatchet to bury.

“Honestly, as soon as I left, I understood the business, because I was going to a place that also presented an opportunity,” Russell said. “So there was no hard feelings, there were no hard feelings, there was nothing to really get over.”

Russell averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 in just 26.3 minutes for the Lakers, primarily a reserve for the first time in his career. He came off the bench in 19 of his last 21 games, but he has a chance to be a court leader again.

Russell, 28, said he hadn’t had a chance to go deeper with Jordi Fernandez about how the coach planned to use him with Simmons. But he was eager to combine his pick-and-roll style with that of his former Montverde Academy teammate.

“Finding a way to meet in the middle and finding that balance, I’m looking forward to it. Like I said, I’m grateful to be here and seeing familiar faces is definitely a cherry on top,” Russell said.

“I mean, it’s a good problem to have as a coach, right? He also dominates the ball as a playmaking guard (forward, whatever you want to say), so being able to go out and meet in the middle and help his game and find ways to help mine, but also the team. and facilitate the coach’s job as well, is something that you don’t have that opportunity as often as you think. So to have that opportunity now somewhere I know, it’s lucky for me to be here.”

Brooklyn waived two-way player Jaylen Martin in a move first reported by The Post.

They signed former Princeton standout Tosan Evbuomwan to that open two-way spot.