The Golden State Warriors’ general manager Bob Myers discredited reports that the Dubs were planning to immediately flip D’Angelo Russell when possible.
While many still believe they will, the Golden State Warriors general manager went on air to discredit the rumors surrounding D’Angelo Russell.
After extensively talking at the Las Vegas Summer League with Joe Lacob and D’Angelo Russell, Myers likely feels certain that this will work.
Following those exchanges and likely countless phones calls and texts, Myers was confident enough in Russell’s ability to toss the trade rumors in the trash. However, I wouldn’t count them out quite yet.
According to ESPN’s Nick Friedell, Bob Myers said that the team “didn’t sign him (Russell) with the intention of just trading him.”
"“I know it’s been written and speculated. That’s fine,” Myers said Monday. “That’s what everybody’s job is to do. We didn’t sign him with the intention of just trading him. We haven’t even seen him play in our uniform yet, and a lot of people have us already trading him. That’s not how we’re viewing it. Let’s just see what we have. Let’s see what he is. Let’s see how he fits.”"
We know who Russell is and how he plays. Great.
What we don’t know is how he will mesh with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and eventually Klay Thompson. On paper, it looks like the Warriors may have the best team in the Western Conference, yet in reality, many are questioning if they’ll even make the playoffs.
While that’s an absurd take, the Warriors have that type of sway among fans and analysts. It’s because of the question mark surrounding Russell. If you look six months in the future and he fits flawlessly, this could be the West’s best team.
However, if he doesn’t fit in six months and they’re forced to flip him for a Robert Covington-type player, they may take relinquish their crown, although Covington may be the perfect fit for their system. That said, much of the season is ridding on Russell and how he meshes with the team.
The obvious goal is to make the fit work. Averaging 21.1 points per game last season, Russell is an elite scoring option. The 23-year-old All-Star was also used to having the ball in his hands the bulk of possessions while in Brooklyn.
That likely won’t be replicated, but if he can score an efficient 18 per game, he’ll be a Warrior the entire four years of his deal. Will that happen though is the real question.