The Golden State Warriors, with the worst record in the league, appear open to moving on from their best player this season in order to stack up assets to make a run next year when the healthy corps has returned.
With the Feb. 6 trade deadline right around the corner, the front office is listening to offers for point guard D’Angelo Russell, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Russell signed with the Warriors this past offseason to a four-year, $117 million deal.
The Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be most interested in his acquiring the point guard. Stein tweeted that it’s “no secret Minnesota wants D-Lo badly.”
The Timberwolves were one of the teams that pursued Russell hardest. Their free agent pitched included a helicopter ride, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski.
They hope to team him up with one of his best friends, star big Karl-Anthony Towns, which would keep Towns happy and add a 2019 All-Star who is averaging 23.8 points and 6.3 assists per game.
Many thought the Warriors would wait until draft time to seriously ponder moving D’Angelo Russell, but sources say they are listening to pitches — with no secret Minnesota wants D-Lo badly. Golden State is widely expected to trade Alec Burks and/or Glenn Robinson III this week
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 3, 2020
While Russell is having a productive year, there is sense to the Warriors moving him. With the 2020-21 salary cap slightly lower than expected, the team would likely have to trade Russell to avoid another year of paying the luxury tax.
As the 2019-20 season is a lost cause for Golden State, removing their best player from the equation would make it easier to secure a top draft pick and draft a highly-touted prospect to play with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green once everyone is healthy.
Moving Russell could also help them acquire less-expensive assets for future title runs. The Timberwolves offer may depend on the haul they get for Robert Covington, if they do trade him. According to Stein, Minnesota is hoping to receive two first-round picks in exchange for one of the league’s better 3-and-D forwards.
With two years remaining on Covington’s contract, it’s also not inconceivable the Warriors try to include him in a Russell deal and start Covington next to their three All-Stars next season.
However, Covington is owed more than $12 million both of the next two years, which would make it tougher to avoid the luxury tax.
Golden State is also “widely expected” to trade Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III, according to Stein.
Burks is on an expiring deal of $2.3 million and is averaging 15.8 points, 3.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds, each of which are career highs.
Robinson is also on a cheap expiring contract, owed just under $1.9 million. He is averaging 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Those two won’t fetch star returns, but it would help strengthen the Warriors’ asset pool instead of losing them in free agency for nothing.
On the week of the trade deadline, don’t be surprised if the Warriors are sellers.
