This NBA season has belonged to the Golden State Warriors, especially with how they have played without the services of Klay Thompson and James Wiseman. However, with Thompson’s return, Steve Kerr’s men are contenders to win the Championship this season.
The Warriors over the years have gone through a lot of transformation. They once had a superteam involving Kevin Durant as the current Brooklyn Nets star helped them win titles. But with his departure, Klay Thompson’s injury and Andre Iguodala’s departure saw the warriors massively short-handed. That time they draft talented guard in D’Angelo Russell.
While Durantula joined the Nets, D’Angelo Russell went the other way as the Dubs thought of creating a shooting trio with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Russell joined the Warriors with great expectations, he was exceptional for the Nets as he featured in the All-Stars selection on the previous season. However, things did not work out for Russell and Steve Kerr took the decision to trade him later that season.
Speaking on D’Angelo Russell’s trade and the reason behind it, Warriors chief coach Steve Kerr revealed his part of the story. He said: “Well, it was definitely a trade of need for us. We’d lost so much wing depth with Klay’s injury, Kevin Durant’s departure, Shaun Livingston’s retirement, Andre Iguodala’s departure. So we just really needed to sign someone big and Andrew Wiggins played really well for us. And then to gain a really good young talent like Jonathan was a great addition to the team.”
However Russell has always been a player who enjoys the ball in hand, he is someone who likes to be in control of his team. But at the Warriors the prime ball handlers as Curry and Draymond Green so it would have been a major problem for him. He was a sensational player but the Warriors had to let him go after he only featured in 33 games for them. He was traded to Minnesota as they got Andrew Wiggins in return. Wiggins has been a great fit at the Warriors over the years.
Wiggins’ arrival addressed two problems for the Warriors as he is a very skilful player even off the ball and can play on the wing and also his on the ball defence suited well with the Warriors. Wiggins till now has had a sensational season despite being overshadowed by Curry’s brilliance.
