Blue Man Hoop
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D’Angelo Russell had to go just like Monta Ellis

By Evan Quarnstrom

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks down during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 30, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 30: D'Angelo Russell #0 of the Golden State Warriors looks down during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on January 30, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
(Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /

D’Angelo Russell had to be traded for the Dubs to increase their title chances. A look back at the 2012 trade of Monta Ellis tells us why.

To the untrained eye, D’Angelo Russell was seemingly having an excellent, break-out season during his short stint with the Golden State Warriors.

Through 33 games he averaged 23.6 points and 6.2 assists per night while hitting a career-high 37% of his nearly 10 three-point attempts per game. At the ripe age of 23, on paper, he sounded like a cornerstone piece to lead the squad to the chosen land, right?

Well, no, that was not the case.

As gifted as Russell has become on the offensive side of the ball, certain limitations in his game were never going to allow the Warriors to become legitimate title contenders.

Some are scratching their heads at the pieces involved in the Russell trade, but the idea was correct. He had to go.

The shortcomings of D’Lo

D’Angelo Russell’s most glaring weakness was by far his defense. He looked completely inept on that side of the ball.

Lacking basic fundamentals and having the tendency to commit lackadaisical errors made it hard for anyone to picture him on an elite championship squad.

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Additionally, Russell was lacking the intangibles that amplify the play of those around him (at least in Kerr’s system). For a player that demands the ball in his hands so much to be successful, he simply did not display an overall winning impact and energy on the game.

Through the 33 games that D’Lo appeared in the Dubs went 10-23. I know the supporting cast was mediocre, but I think most expected our handsomely paid point guard to lead us to at least a few more wins than that.

Something had to give

As I was religiously watching my Dubs basketball this year — through thick and thin — I had a realization: Holy cow, the Warriors are bad, like very bad. So bad in fact, I was beginning to realize that the returns of injured Klay Thompson and Steph Curry were not going to be enough.

There were too many fundamental problems with the Warriors for them to return to championship form and overcome the stacked lineups of the Clippers, Lakers, and Nuggets in a strong Western Conference.

As good as D’Angelo Russell had been offensively, something had to give. The D’Lo experiment had to be blown up for the Warriors to take that next step forward, a strategy that proved successful in 2012 with Monta Ellis.

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