The Golden State Warriors acquired D’Angelo Russell, Treveon Graham, and Shabazz Napier in a sign-and-trade for Kevin Durant at the outset of free agency. Graham and Napier have been moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Russell signed a four-year $117 million contract and will start in the backcourt with Steph Curry.
The Warriors are getting an All-Star player for Kevin Durant who they were going to be losing anyway, it was good for them to get something in return. In Russell, the Warriors will be getting a player that can score big and can shoot off the dribble.
Last season with the Brooklyn Nets, Russell averaged 21 points and seven assists per game, shooting 43 percent, including 36 percent from three. The former Net can pass the basketball and is an All-Star-level offensive player. However, he will be used a little differently in Golden State thank in Brooklyn.
With the Warriors, Russell will be asked to play off the ball a lot more than he did with the Nets. Which should not be a problem because Russell is a good catch and shot player. In Brooklyn, Russel was used in a lot of pick and roll situations, as a matter of fact, he ran more pick and rolls than the entire Warriors team. Russell will have to adapt his game to what the Warriors like to do
Head Coach Steve Kerr will give him his opportunities to runs what he wants from time to time. The Warriors should let Russell run the point sometimes even when Curry is on the floor. Taking Curry off the ball a little bit could free him up to run off screens like Reggie Miller use to back in the day. With Russell being a willing passer it could take some the ball-handling duties off of Curry, who can sometimes turn the ball over too much.
Klay Thompson is out with a torn ACL, so adding Russell will take some the load off of Draymond Green and Curry. Russell is not a good defensive player; he has the length but gives poor effort on that end of the floor. Maybe Steve Kerr can turn that around. He and Curry will have to outscore opponents because they won’t be able to stop anybody.
It will be an interesting fit with Russell on the Warriors. It may take some time for them to jell playing together. Russell is getting a lot of money, so the Warriors are banking on it working out.
