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The Golden State Warriors could make their recent acquisition, D'Angelo Russell, a quick flip — following their blockbuster sign-and-trade deal to yield something out of Kevin Durant's offseason departure.
Via RealGM:
“D'Angelo Russell does not fit there whatsoever,” said Marc Stein of the New York Times on The Dan Patrick Show. “They just did not want to see Kevin Durant walk out the door with no compensation. … They will trade him. It's just a matter of when.”
Most viewed Russell's acquisition as a desperate one — perhaps that's true. But players don't often turn down $221 million when it's put right in front of them, a Hancock away from cashing every cent.
The organization was determined to get some assets in return and Russell, can help the team keep its head above water while Klay Thompson remains out with his ACL injury, expected to return in February or March after the All-Star Break.
Yet it hardly changes the fact that Russell is a one-way player, whose offensive exploits catapulted him to his first-ever All-Star mention. The Ohio State product is a volume shooter with suspect defense and a propensity to settle for jump shots rather than finishing at the rim.
He shot a career-high 36.9% from deep last season, but that would hardly make up for the loss of a perennial 40% sniper from beyond the arc in Thompson.
The Warriors are hard-capped by this sign-and-trade deal, and if they can't trade Russell by the deadline, they sure will try to do so by next summer, hoping to capitalize on the interest from the likes of the Phoenix Suns, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and even the Los Angeles Lakers.
The hope is that by trading his contract, it would give further life to a Big 3 of Stephen Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green, who will await his very own deal as a free agent in 2020.
