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It has been quite the reset year for the Golden State Warriors. After a legendary run that saw the franchise go to five straight NBA Finals and win three championships, the Warriors have been ravaged by injuries, which has contributed to the team sitting at an ugly 9-31, last in the Western Conference. By point differential, the Warriors rank as the third worst team in the league.
Latest news, analysis, updates for Golden State Warriors
D’Angelo Russell to Timberwolves talks heating up
Update, Feb. 4: On Monday, reports came out that D’Angelo Russell potentially landing with the Timberwolves has heated up. The Knicks have also emerged as a target for Russell. D’Lo just signed a max contract over the offseason with the Warriors. With Golden State essentially tanking for better draft stock this season, the team could sell off D’Lo at peak value now and move forward next season with Steph, Klay, Draymond and another star, plus a lottery pick in 2020.
Now, it appears that a four-team deal involving the Rockets and Hawks is in the works. Clint Capela would go to Atlanta and Robert Covington would go to Houston. The T-Wolves would land D’Lo and the Dubs would retain some assets, potentially in the form of Andrew Wiggins.
ESPN Sources: Minnesota orchestrating three-team trade talks with Houston and Atlanta -- with hopes of ultimately turning discussions into a four-way deal that brings Golden State G D'Angelo Russell to Timberwolves. https://t.co/YaHunnVWpo
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2020
Willie Cauley-Stein headed to the Mavericks
Update, Jan. 24: The Warriors are finalizing a deal to send Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cauley-Stein signed with Golden State after parting ways with the Sacramento Kings over the offseason. Dallas is sending the Warriors the Utah Jazz’s 2020 second-round pic, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports. The big man averaged 7.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest while making 37 starts for Golden State this season.
— Ameer Tyree
Update: The Timberwolves shipped out Jeff Teague to the Hawks earlier Thursday, so The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that this move is a precursor to a larger move potentially involving D’Angelo Russell. Minnesota has coveted the young guard and are gearing up for a push at striking a deal, per Shams. Right now, the talks don’t have much traction, and the T-Wolves have some more work to do to clear cap space. But they are intent on pushing for D’Lo, that is clear. I think it’s unrealistic that it happens during this season, as the Warriors have expressed they want to hold onto Russell until at least the 2020 NBA Draft.
— Ben Zweiman
Should Warriors sell at the deadline?
The Warriors are clearly looking to the future, and any move made before the trade deadline will have next season and beyond as the primary motivation. The Warriors are currently tied for the best lottery odds in the 2020 NBA draft, and adding a top three pick to a core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell makes the Warriors strong contenders in 2020-21 provided they can stay healthy.
Russell’s name has been floated in trade rumors recently. While Russell is a talented player, his fit on the Warriors is questionable because of the presence of Curry at PG and Thompson at SG. Thompson would have to slide over to small forward for Russell to join the starting lineup, and a starting backcourt of Curry and Russell could be vulnerable defensively. Coach Steve Kerr has stated that he believes in the importance having a lot of strong two-way players to win in a playoff setting, and Russell is considered a below average defensive player. Russell is one name to watch heading into the trade deadline, as it’s possible the Warriors could flip him for other assets.
The Warriors also have some decisions to make on some of their two-way contract players, the type of player that is shuttled from the G-League to the NBA. Both Ky Bowman and Damion Lee had their NBA limits run out and were assigned to the G-League, and the Warriors would have to open up a roster spot for each to sign them to a standard NBA contract. Lee has flashed potential in his time with the NBA team and looks like a potential NBA rotation player. Golden State could make a trade to free up a roster spot to sign either Lee or Bowman to a standard NBA contract.