The Golden State Warriors are finalizing terms for a sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets, sending Kevin Durant and a protected first-round pick in return for D'Angelo Russell, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
This is the second pick the Warriors have had to give up in the past 24 hours after shelling one out to the Memphis Grizzlies, who agreed to take on Andre Iguodala's contract to make room for Russell.
Golden State is giving out a good amount of assets in hopes of yielding something out of Durant's loss, banking on Russell having enough value to potentially make a good flip down the road.
Upon acquiring him, the Warriors are currently in line to pay $117 million over four years, a sum that won't come cheap unless the team indeed trades him at some point in the near future.
Russell is considered to be a potential trade piece for this roster, which would allow for the Warriors to create flexibility to have in the wake of an impending Draymond Green contract.
It's unlikely that Russell is moved right away, but rather later on after the team has made use of his potential to fill in for Klay Thompson, who recently agreed to a five-year deal worth nearly $190 million to remain with the team, despite suffering a devastating torn ACL in the last game of the NBA Finals.
If it all goes according to plan, Russell's stint in Golden State will be rather brief, but not short of fireworks nonetheless.
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