The NBA’s trade deadline is just a few weeks away now and, as the big day approaches, teams will begin to look harder at moves they can make to improve their roster.
For Bob Meyers and the Golden State Warriors, the future of D’Angelo Russell is probably their biggest question mark at the moment. With Steph and Klay due to return next season, where will he fit into the roster?
With this in mind, it seems plausible that the Dubs consider moving him at the deadline. According to NBC Sports, a likely scenario could include a swap with the Timberwolves for young wing star Andrew Wiggins.
There is, according to both sources, a chance the Warriors could engage the Timberwolves, who are ready to shed guard/forward Andrew Wiggins. Russell is good friends with Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns and the two have hinted their desire to be teammates.
The bond between Russ and Towns is just too strong for the Wolves to ignore. And for the Dubs, Wiggins seems, almost undeniably, like a better fit.
Part of the motivation for Minnesota’s Russell chase, quite clearly, is his relationship with Towns. They are close friends. Towns was part of the contingent that pitched Russell hard this summer. The Wolves know that acquiring Russell not only gets Towns his preferred pick-and-roll partner but also buys them time and faith. The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need. But from a Warriors’ perspective, that’s still a questionable talent-for-talent swap. Most around the league view Russell as better than Wiggins. It’s a move only a panicked front office would make.
The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need. But from a Warriors’ perspective, that’s still a questionable talent-for-talent swap. Most around the league view Russell as better than Wiggins. It’s a move only a panicked front office would make. But the Warriors aren’t in a panic about Russell. Unless the Wolves unload the vault — something like Robert Covington and Josh Okogie plus a basket of appealing, unprotected picks — it’s wiser for the Warriors to wait until past this deadline on Russell and perhaps well beyond.
As Monte Poole points out, it may just be wiser for the Warriors to wait and test the waters for Russell. As a young, offensively talented guard, he has already established himself as a star.
But nobody knows how high Wiggins’ ceiling goes. If the Warriors trade for him, he could thrive in a roster surrounded by shooters.
Alas, there’s only one way to find out. And with the deadline quickly approaching, the Warriors will have to decide what they want to do about their young point guard star.
