D'Angelo Russell was close to joining the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer via a sign-and-trade deal, but he wound up signing with the Golden State Warriors, who acquired the lefty from the Brooklyn Nets in the Kevin Durant sign-and-trade move.

Russell, who is very close friends with Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, admits he liked what Minnesota was building.

However, the weather in California played a big part in Russell's decision to choose the Warriors over the Timberwolves, who play in the cold state of Minnesota:

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“I thought the opportunity here was amazing. It was definitely something I was considering very strongly. But then when this opportunity came, the weather is way better, so that helped me,” Russell told Chris Hine of the Star Tribune.

“I did my first winter in New York and that was tough. So to get the opportunity to go somewhere where it’s warm again, I think that played a major part in my plan.”

Russell began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played two seasons. After playing two years in Brooklyn, Russell was ready to get back to a warm climate after it was clear the Nets were going to sign Kyrie Irving and move on from him.

In his first season with the Warriors, Russell is averaging 19.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists. He's shooting 38.6 percent from the field, 31.4 percent from beyond the arc and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.