Nets newcomers D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis available to play against Raptors

C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News on Jan 1, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Nets will open 2025 with a new-look roster.

D’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis are both available for Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Both were acquired in a trade that sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

The Lakers sent their own second-round picks in 2027, 2030 and 2031 to Brooklyn.

“It’s a good feeling, honestly, to go back somewhere you’re comfortable, somewhere you know the ins and outs a little bit,” Russell told reporters in Toronto. “See some familiar faces. It kind of makes the process a little easier to adjust to. So, I’m just grateful for that.”

This will be Russell’s second stint in Brooklyn. The second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft started his career with the Lakers until he and Timofey Mozgov were traded to the Nets in the 2017 offseason for Brook Lopez and the rights to Kyle Kuzma.

Russell averaged 19 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists in two seasons in Brooklyn, and made his only All-Star appearance during the 2018-19 season. The 28-year-old has since played for the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers again before getting traded back to Brooklyn last Sunday.

Because Russell and Lewis have not had a full practice with the team yet, head coach Jordi Fernandez did not confirm if either will play against Toronto. Both are still learning the playbook and getting up to speed.

Russell is averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes per game this season.

“It’s just like getting traded any time before that,” Russell said. “You have to adjust, so it’s been an adjustment for me. Learning the players, learning the coaching staff, learning Brooklyn’s new ways. A lot has changed since I’ve been here, so just trying to adjust and jump right in with these guys.”

The Nets also signed forward Tosan Evbuomwan to a two-way contract on Wednesday, and waived Jaylen Martin to make room for him. Evbuomwan joins Tyrese Martin and Reece Beekman as Brooklyn’s three two-way players.

In 17 games as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies last season, Evbuomwan averaged 5.9 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 38% from 3-point range. He appeared in 16 Tip-Off Tournament games for the San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League this season, averaging 18.4 points on 51.9% shooting with 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

Cam Thomas (left hamstring injury management), Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain), and Ziaire Williams (left knee injury management) were all ruled out against Toronto.

_____