At this point in the season, it would be a complete understatement to say that things have not exactly gone as planned for the Golden State Warriors this term. The loss of Kevin Durant in free agency, coupled with Klay Thompson's long-term injury led us all to believe that the Dubs would struggle this season, but perhaps only very few could have imagined that the team would be this bad.
Currently, Golden State is in possession of the worst record in the league at 10-39. They're obviously going nowhere this season, and have switched to tank mode pretty much since they lost Stephen Curry to a broken hand very early in the campaign. Now geared towards their future, many believe that the Warriors are currently open to listening to any offers for their players — save for two or three untouchables — if they were going to be rewarded with some down-the-road assets in any potential trade deal.
One of the most intriguing bits running around the rumor mill is a D'Angelo Russell-Aaron Gordon trade with the Orlando Magic. And while there have also been some reports stating that the deal is unlikely to pull though, there's no reason why we shouldn't explore how this potential trade could benefit a Warriors side that is looking to be competitive again as early as next season.
In a stop-start season with the Warriors this term, Russell has proven that he still remains in the upper echelon of point guards in the league today. The 23-year-old, who joined the Warriors this summer as part of the Durant deal, is currently averaging 24.0 points (on 43.3 percent shooting), 3.6 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 0.9 steals, while also connecting on 3.7 triples per game on a 37.7 percent clip.
However, the biggest question that has emerged is Russell's fit with the Warriors. The Dubs have already shown in the past how effective a Curry-Thompson backcourt can be, so to some extent, Russell can be viewed as surplus to requirements for Golden State.
As for the Magic, however, acquiring a cornerstone talent in Russell is certainly something that should pique their interest, especially considering how they're currently looking like a low playoff seed in the East this season. The Warriors, however, will likely require a future first-round pick along with Gordon, and at this point, Orlando might just be willing to pay the price.
In Gordon, Golden State will get a legitimate wing threat that can help them on both ends of the court. Picture a younger and quicker Andre Iguodala. This welcome addition, coupled with a first-rounder that can help them remain competitive in years to come should provide enough incentive for the Dubs to part ways with Russell. At the end of the day, this could be a win-win for all parties involved.
Follow Us
Subscribe