NBA: 10 stars that could be on the move next

D’Angelo Russell, Golden State Warriors

The route for D’Angelo Russell to the Golden State Warriors wasn’t typical.

Entering free agency it became clear that the Brooklyn Nets would sign All-NBA guard Kyrie Irving, leaving Russell to find a new team.

Many believed that team would be the Minnesota Timberwolves, citing their need for a lead guard, interest in making a splashy move and the close friendship between Russell and Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Then, in an unexpected turn of events, Golden State engineered a double sign-and-trade with the Nets, sending Kevin Durant and a conditional first-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for Russell.

Putting the complicated financial situations to the side (the sign-and-trade hard caps the Warriors at the luxury tax apron) the on-court fit for Russell in Golden States is complicated.

Russell excels with the ball in his hands. That is what turned him into an All-Star in Brooklyn. The Warriors have Stephen Curry, a player that the team wants doing most of the ball-handling duties, and Draymond Green, who can do a fair share of play making on his own.

With Klay Thompson likely lost for a majority of next season due to an ACL tear suffered in the NBA Finals, Russell should be able to slot in to the starting lineup, but what happens when Thompson is healthy again?

Do the Warriors ownership want to pay a max contract player to come off the bench? Will Russell — who has had locker-room issues in the past — be willing to accept that role?

It feels as though Golden State acquired Russell as a trade chip down the line.

How long will they be willing to hold on to that trade chip if the team struggles in a newly armed Western Conference while being over the luxury tax and a year away from a probable maximum contract for Draymond Green?

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Russell on his fourth team of his career by the end of February’s trade deadline.