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

Con: Did they give up too much?

The trade was not just between Russell and Durant, either. In order to balance the books, Andre Iguodala has been shipped to Memphis, along with a selection of first round draft picks. With the roster so thin already, losing someone so crucial to both the locker room and the rotation is not entirely ideal.

Iguodala was often the primary defender on the opponent’s best offensive player, and with Klay injured, the Warriors are in desperate need of finding someone to be effectively deployed in that role. Russell cannot be relied upon to become that player.

Moreover, the sign-and-trade directly affects the ability to re-sign Kevon Looney, as the hard cap is now very much in play. It is becoming increasingly likely that Looney will be in search of pastures new, and while he is deserving of a payday, he will be difficult to replace at a low price.

Even if the Warriors do trade Russell for more pieces over the course of the season, the question remains: did they give up too much to get him in the first place?

Overall, the jury is still very much out on the D’Angelo Russell trade. There is still plenty of free agency left, and many dominos have yet to fall in place. It is not the perfect situation for the Warriors to be sitting in currently, but at this point, it could be as good as it can get for a team so hamstrung by the pesky salary cap.