Lakers Offseason News: D’Angelo Russell is focused on improving his lower body strength

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to improve in the 2016-17 season, that much is obvious. After posting their three worst records in franchise history over the past three seasons, the front office is hoping their additions of Timofey Mozgov, Luol Deng, Brandon Ingram, and new head coach Luke Walton will allow the team to take a few steps forward this year.

But as we’ve been saying all offseason, a great degree of any improvement the Lakers want to make will have to come from the continued development of their young players.

D’Angelo Russell is arguably the most important player in that group, and before he heads to Las Vegas for Summer League this week, the Lakers gave fans an inside look at his workouts this offseason. Head athletic trainer Tim DiFrancesco detailed how the team is focused on building up Russell’s lower body strength so he can fulfill his offseason goal of being a “bully” on the low block in this video from their Twitter feed:

Russell gained mass as the season moved along last season, but there were points where he looked every bit the part of the overmatched 19-year old rookie. If all of his time in the gym this summer pays off, that may not be as much of a problem for him next season.

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