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Golden State Warriors: Trading D’Angelo Russell would compromise the future

By Nathan Beighle

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Golden State Warriors is seen during the game during Day 3 of the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2019 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Golden State Warriors is seen during the game during Day 3 of the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2019 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors signed D’Angelo Russell to be the team’s future. Trading him would only put them in a worse long-term position.

It’s been a solid offseason for the Golden State Warriors. While it hasn’t been ideal because of the departure of Kevin Durant, the team was able to replace him with a 23-year-old All-Star by the name of D’Angelo Russell.

Many, including us, have started to theorize what a trade involving Russell would look like. However, for now, those are exactly that: theories.

The team isn’t planning to trade Russell.

Warrior executives have already come out and said they didn’t sign him to trade him, and even if they do end up deal the youngster, that’s exactly the mindset they should have entering the season.

It’d take a haul for Golden State to deal Russell, and while he’s a solid player, there’s more at stake then just losing out on an asset. It’s the future the team should be concerned about.

Their franchise wonderboy and two-time MVP Stephen Curry is now 31 and will be on the downward spiral in the next few seasons. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, two of the Warriors multi-time All-Stars, will also be hitting 30 within the next few seasons.

At 23, Russell was the perfect addition for Golden State. He’ll be learning and training with arguably the two greatest shooters in the history of the game. At the same time, he’s already a developed star.

Russell averaged 21.1 points per game last season, yet when the Nets got word that both Kyrie Irving and Durant were signing with them, keeping Russell seemed impossible. Moving him for some assets was the smart play for Brooklyn.

However, for Golden State, it allowed them a chance to create a young core that will take the team well into the next decade. Without Russell, the team would be leaning on Jordan Poole, Kevon Looney, Eric Paschall and a bunch of low-value first-round picks.

They need Russell to maintain a successful franchise.

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With the Chase Center unveiling this fall, the team will want to pack the brand new, state-of-the-art center well into the future. Keeping Russell around for the full four years and potentially even further into the future would do just that.

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