D’Angelo Russell might be in the most unique position of any player in the league. The newest star for the most dynamic NBA franchise of the decade also happens to be the only veteran left standing. With injuries to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, and the departure of Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant, Russell has to do absolutely everything for a franchise he hardly knows.
The Warriors’ big D’Angelo Russell conundrum
Russell’s trade value should be going up during the Warriors’ free-fall.
So far, he’s taken it in stride. In five games without Curry or Thompson, he’s averaged an incredible 33 points per night shooting 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from distance with seven assists and four rebounds. The Warriors may have lost every single game in that span, and they might be one of the worst teams in the league, but Russell putting up even bigger scoring numbers on better efficiency than he did last season in Brooklyn.
Russell’s had a winding road in the NBA and this next stretch may be his breaking point. He was selected No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015, and after struggling for two years, replaced by Lonzo Ball. Then he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, where he blossomed into an all-star in his second year only to be traded when Durant came knocking on the door. Now, he’s at the helm of the greatest basketball empire, and he’s playing once again for his future. There’s no guarantee he’ll be wearing the same jersey by year’s end.
Russell has been REALLY good in Curry’s absence
Russell hasn’t just been streaky, he’s been consistently awesome leading his own offense. That’s not easy considering he’s playing with Draymond Green and any mixture of fringe-NBA players.
Russell’s been great from deep, sinking 19-of-49 tries over the last five games, and he’s been crafty shooting floaters through the lane. He’s gotten to the line eight times per game over that span, too, and made 85 percent of those looks. He’s played like a go-to offensive option.
Russell’s numbers in Golden State are even better than the ones that helped make him an all-star for the first time in his career while with the Nets last year. In the 2018 season, Russell put up 33.3 points per 100 possessions on 53.3 percent true shooting with a 41.3 percent assist rate. This year, he is scoring 37.4 points per 100 possessions on 57.2 percent true shooting with a 38.2 percent assist rate.
Russell is finishing at the rim at the best clip of his career (66.7 percent) and has his lowest ever turnover rate, too. He might not get an all-star nod again in this season because the Warriors stink and the West is stacked with great players, but he’s having an even more impressive season than his breakout in Brooklyn.
Can he fit with the rest of the Warriors?
Free from the pressures of making the postseason or fitting alongside the offense that’s already proven its greatness, Russell has been otherworldly. But would we be saying the same if Curry and Thompson were healthy?
It’s a tricky question to answer given the small sample size of Russell in a Dubs uniform. The Russell of right now is so great because he’s his team’s top option, and the ball lands in his hands when he wants it. But will Russell be as effective when he’s the third or fourth option at best?
Russell is an electrifying scorer, but so are Curry and Thompson. What makes Curry and Thompson so special is their ability to contribute on the offensive end as high-level decision-makers both on- and off- the ball. Curry’s made his name as an elite screener, and Thompson’s adjusted to nights where he plays more of a shooting decoy to Curry rather than lights-out scorer.
And then there’s the question about defense, too. As great as Russell has been scoring, he’s still as poor a defender as ever. Curry might not be an elite defender, but he’s a consistent enough offensive player that it doesn’t matter. And even when Thompson’s off, he’s a reliable perimeter defender. Russell isn’t there yet.
Russell has glaring flaws that, as of now, would hold him back as the third Splash Bro. It doesn’t seem like those three guys would play well together unless Draymond Green becomes the defender he was four years ago to clean up the slop. Still, there’s 70 games to grow Russell into something more. Curry didn’t become what he was overnight.
Will Russell playing well just get him traded?
All this development and a career year could just land Russell in a place he’s all too familiar with already: the trade block. Russell’s 21 points per game from last year is on its way to being beaten, and each game he shines in, like, say, his 52-point game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, raises his value that much more.
It’s anyone’s guess if being traded is in Russell’s benefit before Curry and Thompson return, but at the least, he’s secured his four-year, $117 million contract for wherever he ends up.
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