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Maxwell Lewis Shows Appreciation to Lakers After Nets Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Jan 2, 2025 2:02 PM ET

The Lakers made their first significant move of the trade season, sending D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis and three second-round picks to Brooklyn for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton.

While Russell and Finney-Smith headline the deal, the departure of Lewis adds an interesting subplot. The 22-year-old wing, selected 40th overall by Los Angeles in 2023, now joins a rebuilding Nets team that should offer more developmental opportunities for the young forward.

Though his NBA minutes were limited, Lewis showed promise in the G League, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 rebounds with South Bay this season. With the move to Brooklyn, the 6-foot-7 wing could finally get meaningful NBA minutes on a Nets roster focused on youth development.

In a recent post on X, Lewis showed his appreciation to the Lakers organization:

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A post shared by Maxwell Lewis (@max_lew22)

He also posted a photo celebrating his time and friendship with teammate LeBron James:

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A post shared by Maxwell Lewis (@max_lew22)

After evaluating the team's needs, Rob Pelinka executed the trade exactly as promised. The Lakers GM highlighted Finney-Smith's defensive prowess and shooting while acknowledging Russell and Lewis's contributions, remaining confident in the organization's new direction.

The trade will offer the 18-13 Lakers defensive versatility but bids farewell to Russell's scoring punch. Only time will tell if Pelinka's calculated gamble pays off as the team chases Western Conference contention.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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