Consistency
Russell is a bright, up-and-coming star in the NBA, and he may be a solid player for the next decade. That said, he hasn’t proven that he can contribute on a solid, championship-level team.
He hasn’t been put in that position. If the Warriors want someone they know can and will produce at the highest level on the brightest moment, you bring in a player that’s been to four NBA Championships.
That type of pedigree is rare. Let’s also not forget to mention how Love is a 44.2% career shooter. While that’s not elite for a big man, it is significantly better than Russell, who has shot 41.9% on his career.
If he can stay on the court, Love is a guaranteed 15 and 10 type of player. That’s the type of player Golden State needs.
While Russell did explode for 40-plus three times last season, he also had four games of under ten points with ten-plus attempts. Of the mere 22 he played, Love didn’t have a single game like that.
Some would hate it, some would love it. Ultimately, if trading Russell is going to be done, securing Love and some other assets wouldn’t be a horrible haul.