Golden State Warriors: Trade Russell to capitalize on the Big Three

D’Angelo Russell is a talented player, but his presence only moves the Golden State Warriors’ needle so far with the pending return of their Big Three.

D’Angelo Russell has been one of the few bright spots for the Golden State Warriors in a dreadful gap season. The Warriors are coming off an NBA Finals loss, the departure of multiple stars and injuries to the other stars like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In spite of it all, Russell is posting a career-high scoring average at 23.8 points per game and a career-best 3-point shooting mark of 38.3 percent.

While he’s done most of his damage as a solo act, what may matter most is his fit alongside the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green once the three are together again at the beginning of next season.

Conversely, Golden State’s prized offseason acquisition has recently been linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski as the Feb. 6 trade deadline nears, with Marc Stein of The New York Times stating its openness to offers.

There’s a widely-held belief among NBA circles that the value of a dollar — or superstar player — isn’t the same as four worth 25 cents apiece. If you’re thinking of trading a star and especially a superstar, you better get more than some quality supporting pieces in return or keep the elite talent if possible, because the values don’t equal out.

With the deadline inching closer, it’s a debate that has circled heavily around the Warriors and their pending verdict on what to do with Russell.

For most, keeping a 23-year-old former All-Star point guard seems like a no brainer, but his pairing with the Warriors never made sense, and it’s why trading him is a growing possibility.

Looking at the construction of Golden State’s roster, star power is one of the few departments they’re not lacking in.

Not only do Curry, Thompson, and Green compromise a championship-tested core with the talent to compete at a high level. The former two are one of the best backcourts when healthy, leaving little room for D’Angelo Russell.

A ball-dominant scorer, Russell is at his best operating out of pick-and-rolls, where he ranks ninth with 10.3 such possessions per game this season and 11th with 9.1 points per game.

The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, have never been fond of the blatant two-man game that’s helped Russell carve out a career. They rank 19th in pick-and-roll possessions this season and were last a year ago.

Exceptions to the idea of a talent overload can always be made and have in Golden State in the past. Such instances include a 6’10” interchangeable forward and one of the greatest scorers ever in the form of Kevin Durant along with a former All-Star big man (DeMarcus Cousins) to be had at the veterans minimum.

But when said player doesn’t bring a gameplan-wiping level of talent or a cheap price tag — Russell signed a four-year, $117 million contract over the summer — stomaching his presence becomes a bit more difficult, especially given the gaping holes a return package could help fill.

At small forward and center, the Dubs are currently rolling with Glenn Robinson III and Marquese Chriss, respectively. Their bench is only 11th in scoring on account of the talent proximity it has to the starters.

The five-spot can be remedied with the slow return of Kevon Looney, who has played just 12 games all season after serving as a crucial piece to Golden State’s 2019 Finals run.

Despite his career-best season, Robinson isn’t ready for a starting job on a contending team, nor has he proved the ability to contribute to anything meaningful in his previous five seasons.

Taking a look at what Minnesota could offer, a package that possibly includes Robert Covington, Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Napier looks like an absolute heist for the Timberwolves.

Covington, however, is the 3-and-D wing Golden State will desperately need in the playoffs in the absence of Andre Iguodala. Dieng can rotate between the starters and second-unit as a legitimate big-man presence. Napier can score in spurts to provide some sparks off the bench.

Throw in a first-round pick and take into account the added financial flexibility with several smaller deals, and the Warriors have the balance to truly compete at the highest level.

The Golden State Warriors of today won’t be the one we see at the beginning of the 2020-21 season. Steph and Klay will reassert their perimeter dominance. Draymond’s two-way value will be on full display.

That’s three dollars worth of production right there, the type that already groups them among a select few of championship contenders.

On paper, keeping a talent like D’Angelo Russell makes all the sense in a league driven by its best. Out on the court, though, everyone has a role to fill. Whether big or small, sometimes you just need some spare change to fill in the small cracks of a championship puzzle.