Within the same 48 hours, the Golden State Warriors traded Glenn Robinson III and D’Angelo Russell. The former upset the team far more.
This all starts back in the 2019 offseason. It actually starts a bit before that, in the 2019 NBA Finals, when the Golden State Warriors were downed in six games by the Toronto Raptors.
While if both teams were at full strength the result may have been different, the Dubs failed to complete the rare three-peat. That started the end of the dynasty as Kevin Durant wanted out, and he wanted to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets opted for a sign-and-trade in which the Warriors returned D’Angelo Russell. With an uber-thin roster, the Warriors also opted to fill out their roster with low-profile veterans like Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks.
That’s how they both managed to get to the Bay Area.
The rumors around a Russell trade were loud, but the reasoning was for more there for a Glenn Robinson III deal. The Warriors were out of playoff contention and Robinson was on a one-year deal.
Both ended up being dealt and the Warriors roster was transformed within days. That said, we’re now hearing a report that the team’s remaining personnel and front office were far more upset that Robinson III was dealt.
“One league source told The Chronicle that many on the team were far more upset about Robinson being traded than with D’Angelo Russell getting dealt to Minnesota the next day,” Connor Letourneau of The SF Chronicle wrote.
Robinson was having the best season of his career. His percentages were solid and his production was far above what the Warriors were hoping for. However, it’s still strange to hear they were more upset Robinson was dealt than former All-Star D’Angelo Russell.
While we don’t know the personalities of the players, a report like this says volumes at just how likable Robinson III may be. That said, Russell is in Minnesota and will likely return only when the two team’s matchup. As for Robinson, a free agent this offseason, he says he’s open to a return.
The team will again be extremely thin, so hopefully, they can make that happen.