1. Russell Doesn’t Maximize the Curry Era

Whenever a team has a special individual talent like Steph Curry that is capable of winning not even just one MVP, but two total, it’s crucial to maximize his career. Keeping D’Angelo Russell is not the way to make the most of the Curry era.

There is somewhat of an argument that can be made that having Russell would help Curry because he can also create as an initiator. However, the drawbacks that come into play with his poor defense and inability to provide much versatility outside of spot-up off the ball negates that.

The best practice seems to be to trade Russell for cohesive role players or assets that can be then used to acquire fitting pieces. The core of Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have already proven to be a championship-caliber group, so surrounding them with cohesive pieces is critical.

According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Warriors could “fetch a first-round pick and a solid rotation player” in exchange for Russell. This is the avenue that Golden State should try to pursue in order to bolster their roster.

There will be more options for the Warriors to choose from in the offseason when it comes to shopping Russell around. Teams will have more open cap space and it’s easier to commit to major decisions when there isn’t a game in the next day or two.

Something to also consider, the Warriors will know where their 2020 first-round pick ends up being after the NBA Draft Lottery. If it ends up being a high selection, they could even look to package it with Russell for a piece or two that could bring a real boost.