Golden State Warriors Rumors: No intent on trading D’Angelo Russell

The Golden State Warriors could be stirring up a market for D’Angelo Russell, yet they’re patiently waiting for the deals to swarm in.

The Golden State Warriors, even if they wanted to, couldn’t trade D’Angelo Russell until December 15. That gives them about three weeks before the early February trade deadline, one that will surely have high activity among NBA contenders.

The Warriors, for the first time in the past six seasons, are not true contenders. It’s not because of their talent, though. They have the talent; sadly, it’s just been hit with the injury bug as both Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry have combined to play four games.

Thompson may be out all season after tearing his ACL in the 2019 NBA Finals while Curry broke his left hand and will be re-evaluated in February. That’s left Russell as the team’s only elite scoring option.

A five-win team, the Warriors have the blossoming Eric Paschall and a likely top-three pick to lean on for the future. Do they still need Russell, a player that may not be the best fit for the team next season? While the fit is still unknown, if the price is high, the Warriors might as well capitalize.

However, one general manager said that the Warriors “aren’t pushing the market,” according to Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.

"“If it is something that they’re going to do quickly, like before the end of this month, I wouldn’t say they’re pushing for it. Maybe they have a deal in mind, maybe they’re sitting on something and laying low. But I’d be surprised. That’s not how they’d approach it, I’d think. You want to create a market if you are going to trade a player like him, you want to pit teams against each other, drive up the price. You don’t want to lock into one deal. But the market thing, that’s not really happening yet. They’re not pushing the market for him.”"

The Warriors aren’t pushing the market. The Warriors may not have an interest in trading Russell, as was reported during the offseason. The rumors were at an all-time high, and Bob Myers and company crushed them.

While the team hasn’t said much since then, it’s assumed that Russell isn’t for sale. The 23-year-old is currently averaging a career-high 22.3 points per game. He’s also contributing 6.2 assists per game.

Under contract for the next three seasons, Russell was brought into the future of the franchise as Curry and Thompson will both be nearing 35 within the next few seasons. Will they keep him as the face of their future or will they opt to put their 2020 first-round pick in that position?

In a few weeks, we’ll know the answer to that.