Sources: Muhammad returning to Wolves

Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has a player option for $18.7 million for next season. Russell hasn’t decided if he’ll pick up his option or opt out, but he does know he would prefer to remain with the Lakers.

“I’d love to be here and continue to give it a run and be where my feet are now,” Russell told HoopsHype. “Obviously, I’ve been on the other side of it, and I’ve been through the roller coaster of free agency and having to sit back and wait. I’m looking forward to not having to worry about that. I’ve been blessed enough to put myself in this position with my play. I’m definitely planning on taking advantage of that. When that time comes, I feel that everything will play out how it’s supposed to play out.”

The veteran guard also said there’s a lot of pressure playing in what is effectively a contract year.

“It’s definitely pressure,” Russell said. “It’s something that can eat a lot of people up in the league. A lot of people can be too high at times and too low at times, which causes an emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of the season. For me, I wanted to control that. I wanted to stay sane and stay even-keeled through the ups and the downs.”

Joel Embiid was a late scratch for the Philadelphia 76ers matchup at the Denver Nuggets on Saturday afternoon. Embiid missed the game due to left knee soreness.

The 76ers training staff reportedly made the decision after watching Embiid warm up for the game on Saturday.

This was Embiid’s 11th missed game this season. The Sixers star center can only miss six more games this season in order to remain eligible for postseason awards, including repeating as NBA MVP.

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, players must play in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards.