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Golden State Warriors: Pros and cons of the D’Angelo Russell Trade

By Adam Serpant

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during warm up, prior to an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 11: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during warm up, prior to an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Golden State Warriors stole the show by trading for D’Angelo Russell. Let’s break down the pros and cons behind this deal.

The opening of free agency 2019 drew to a close one of the NBA’s greatest modern dynasties as Kevin Durant announced that he was taking his talents to Brooklyn for the next four years. The entire league rejoiced as the Golden State Warriors began to prepare for life after KD. And then Bob Myers pulled off his annual “wait… how did they do that…” deal when it was revealed that the Nets had agreed to a sign-and-trade that delivered the Warriors all-star guard D’Angelo Russell.

D-Lo has had a turbulent beginning to his NBA career, after being chosen second overall in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, but issues off the court created more headlines than his slightly underwhelming performances on it. This caused incoming President of Operations Magic Johnson to offload him to the lowly Nets as he searched for “leaders”, and he felt Russell was not what he needed on that front.

Fast forward two seasons and Russell has hauled his side from the lottery to the playoffs, grown into a capable leader, and was given the all-star nod this past February that he certainly merited.

The Warriors have signed Russell to a 4-year, $117m max contract, and are now presented with a few different options to proceed moving forward in the murky new world of a season without KD and without Klay Thompson until he returns from a torn ACL.

Here are some pros and cons surrounding the trade.

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