Knowing that Kevin Durant is on his way to the Brooklyn Nets, the Golden State Warriors have reportedly decided to chart a different path, clearing the way for Brooklyn's All-Star point guard D'Angelo Russell to join the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal.
The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported of the acquisition, which also includes Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham moving out West. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski soon confirmed the deal, noting it's a four-year, $117 million maximum contract.
Anyone who has followed Russell's career knows that he blossomed into an All-Star in Brooklyn. In 2015, he originally drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged a career-best line (21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, 43.4 FG%, 36.9 3P%) while leading the Nets to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They fell to the Sixers, 4-1, in the first round.
Napier established a role as a scoring guard off the bench (9.4 ppg, 17.6 mpg in 56 games). Graham, a swingman signed as a free agent heading into the season, provided spot duty across 35 games (5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 20.4 mpg).
In his second season in Brooklyn, Russell was en route to an All-Star selection and a finalist spot for the 2019 Most Improved Player award. With the Warriors, the young athlete is expected to slide in at the shooting guard position. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson will move up to small forward in the wake of Durant's departure.
He had previously been playing both guard spots in Brooklyn to accommodate the playing time of Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, and Spencer Dinwiddie. As the former second overall pick and starting point guard of the Lakers, Russel played alongside Kobe Bryant, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle.
Wojnarowski also reported that the Warriors is preparing to hand over Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, with a protected 2024 first-round pick attached. In a tweet, Woj wrote: "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."
Iguodala, who earned Finals MVP recognition in 2015, averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 23.2 minutes last season, his 15th. The 35-year-old's contract, now comes off the Warriors books and slots into an exception the Grizzlies held as a result of the reported trade of Mike Conley Jr. to the Utah Jazz.
