NBA trade grades: Warriors trade D’Angelo Russell to Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins

Golden State Warriors

Wiggins has improved, albeit marginally, this season. His assist rate has jumped to 18.5 percent with a slight usage increase in recent years. He’s also making a greater impact on the defensive end with 0.9 defensive win shares, which is better or matches his first three seasons. He’s on pace for a career high this season.

He may fill a role similar to that of Harrison Barnes when he entered the league, playing his first four seasons with the Warriors. Barnes was a better 3-point shooter than Wiggins has shown this season but both had comparable mid-range games. In recent years, Shaun Livingston filled in the mid-range game for the Warriors but there’s space open for Wiggins.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

It will allow Curry and Thompson to patrol the perimeter and the Warriors offense should free up more open looks for Wiggins, something he hasn’t benefitted from often as a focal point of the Wolves. Golden State hopes that its winning culture will unlock Wiggins, New York Times’ Marc Stein reported.

If Minnesota doesn’t progress quickly, the Warriors could have lottery picks in back-to-back years. Golden State currently has the league’s worst record at 12-40. If the Warriors were to win the lottery, they could get a cheap center in James Wiseman to complete their core. The other avenue is to add a point guard or wing and sign a cheap center on the free agent market.

Grade: B

Essentially the Warriors have turned Kevin Durant into a Wiggins and picks. They acquired D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade that sent Durant to the Brooklyn Nets. But they now have a better balance across their roster and can develop depth from there.