The Golden State Warriors may have lost Kevin Durant, but they are gaining some ice in their veins.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Sunday that the Warriors have acquired All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell from the Brooklyn Nets on a four-year, $117 million max deal. The deal will be part of a sign-and-trade, as Durant expressed his intention to sign with Brooklyn earlier in the day.
Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier will also be heading to Golden State in the trade.
Warriors are on verge of acquiring Russell, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier from Brooklyn, league sources said. https://t.co/4HefUBSNQA
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
The Dubs’ acquisition of Russell, who just posted 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game in a career year, fills a need. Klay Thompson may miss all of next season with a torn ACL, Shaun Livingston is expected to retire, and Quinn Cook could be on his way out of Golden State as well.
That said, the move is still somewhat surprising considering that Golden State had to create space to get under the tax apron in order to absorb Russell. They achieved that by trading longtime Warrior Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies along with a future first-round pick, per Wojnarowski.
Golden State is trading Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, league source tells ESPN. Warriors are sending a 2024 protected first-round pick in the 2024 (protected 1-4), 2025 (protected 1) and 2026 unprotected.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
The 23-year-old Russell was widely believed to be heading to another Western team, so this development certainly shakes things up on multiple fronts.
