Storyline: D'Angelo Russell Trade?
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Larry Nance Jr: Woj 💣
D'Angelo Russell to Minnesota
Are the Bulls really in on D’Angelo Russell? – Jonathan Rivera, via Facebook I haven’t heard speculation linking Russell to the Bulls since last summer. Given that they just signed Tomas Satoransky, I don’t expect that to change.
Jon Krawczynski: Towns clearly frustrated. He played that way too. Wasn’t as active as usual. Here’s the problem: all indications are Russell isn’t coming. So it’s hard to see things getting markedly better in immediate future.
Sam Amick: Now, there’s still time for Minnesota to use some of these new pieces to pull off a D’Angelo Russell trade with Golden State, right? Technically, yes. But at last we checked, the Warriors are moving on for two reasons. Russell has been a good fit within their walls, meaning there’s no urgency to move him now. Secondly, the established price tag just simply hasn’t been met. The third part – and this is me talking here – is that there simply has to be serious reservations about the idea of Andrew Wiggins playing a pivotal part of their future (he was expected to be in the possible deal). A source confirmed reports of New York’s pursuit of Russell, but indicated that the proposals – as of Wednesday afternoon – weren’t even remotely appealing to the Warriors.
Warriors listening to offers for D'Angelo Russell
On the heels of Tuesday night’s four-team, 12-player deal, the Golden State Warriors continue to listen to offers for sought-after point guard D’Angelo Russell.
League sources have confirmed that, though there are a few players the Warriors like in the 2020 draft, they don’t consider June’s draft deep and would prefer to have multiple picks in 2021. Though talks seem to have stalled between the Warriors and the Timberwolves, conversations could start again should Minnesota make their unprotected 2021 first-round pick available.
Going forward, the Warriors ideally would continue to play Klay Thompson at shooting guard and add a starting-level player capable of taking over minutes at small forward and able to play some power forward. While Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins fits the description physically, he isn’t enough to get a deal done. Because his salary matches Russell’s, Wiggins would have to be involved in a deal with Minnesota.
Mills negotiated with teams on trades up until Monday, according to the source, and several packages are in place for acting Knicks president Scott Perry with which to work. Trading Marcus Morris for a collection of assets and dealing with Golden State for point guard D’Angelo Russell are still on the table, according to the source.
Knicks pursuing D'Angelo Russell
Shams Charania: The New York Knicks continue to pursue Warriors’ star D’Angelo Russell, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. So far, Knicks haven’t offered packages that would close gap on Golden State’s price point.
The Wolves initially were hoping that the extra draft picks they were hunting for Covington would be attractive enough to flip for Russell, the Warriors’ star guard who also happens to be tight with Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns. But those talks have stalled, with the Wolves so far unwilling to meet the Warriors’ demand to include their own unprotected 2020 first-round pick in the deal, sources said. The Warriors were preparing to move on from the talks as of Tuesday night, sources said. But negotiations are always fluid in the week leading up to the trade deadline, and things can change both big and small, with just one phone call from either side.
Shams Charania: Golden State is moving on from D’Angelo Russell conversations with Minnesota at this juncture, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium . Warriors have been clear with Minnesota on price point — and Timberwolves, to this point, are not willing to meet it.
D'Angelo Russell staying with Warriors?
Shams Charania: Golden State is moving on from D’Angelo Russell conversations with Minnesota at this juncture, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. Warriors have been clear with Minnesota on price point — and Timberwolves, to this point, are not willing to meet it.
Adrian Wojnarowski Golden State, Minnesota traded deal concepts today and tonight — but a significant gulf remains. Warriors are investigating deals that shed salary and lower tax bill — as well as bring back some draft value. Holding onto D’Angelo Russell thru deadline has always been an option.
Andrew Wiggins heading to Warriors?
If D’Angelo Russell ends up in Minnesota before Thursday’s trade deadline, Andrew Wiggins will be heading to the Warriors. Multiple league sources say Wiggins is involved in every iteration of a deal being discussed between the two teams. Wiggins has the best contract on the Wolves to match salaries with Russell, and his career could be re-energized in Golden State.
There’s a hold-up: Minnesota isn’t offering enough draft compensation. As it stands, the Warriors have been offered Minnesota’s 2020 first-round pick and Brooklyn’s 2020 first-round pick, which would be sent via Atlanta as part of what is effectively a four-team trade with the Hawks and Rockets. But the Warriors want future firsts instead of picks in 2020—most importantly, they want an unprotected first-round pick in 2021, which will have a much stronger draft class than the one coming this June.
Golden State is at least listening to trade pitches for the former Nets All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell sooner than expected, with Minnesota pushing relentlessly for him despite the Timberwolves’ limited cache of assets.
Alex Kennedy: Shams Charania on the Warriors-Knicks trade talks for D’Angelo Russell: “One player that I am told they have included in talks is Kevin Knox, which is interesting… I haven’t gotten the sense that the Knicks would add Mitchell Robinson.”
Details on potential four-way swap revealed
The Timberwolves, Rockets and Hawks possess the assets to fulfill some of each team’s goals: forward Robert Covington to Houston, center Clint Capela to the Hawks and potentially two first-round picks and an expiring contract to Minnesota, league sources said.
For Minnesota, those potential draft assets could be useful in talks with Golden State on a Russell trade, or elsewhere in deals at the trade deadline or in this offseason. The Timberwolves have been engaged with Golden State in talks on a package that includes Russell in recent weeks, league sources said.
HoopsHype recently discussed Russell’s trade value and where he might end up with various league executives, and the responses varied quite a bit. One Eastern Conference general manager told us: “D’Angelo Russell should be able to bring back a lot in a trade because you are getting a guy with cost certainty who’s under contract for three more years after this one and he’s still very young.”
As far as potential landing spots for Russell, there were a few teams that consistently popped up in responses from league execs. One Eastern Conference executive told HoopsHype: “With D-Lo, I could see a lot of teams at least discussing him. I could see the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons all trying to see if there would be a deal – and probably some other teams too.” Another responded to us: “Minnesota is possible and, I agree, they make sense. If not Minnesota, New York could be a possible landing spot.”
Finally, a third league exec told HoopsHype: “Russell could return a player and a pick. The Timberwolves are being linked to him, but they would have to include a lot more to complete a deal. It would probably include Robert Covington, but they’d need to add a lot more and the money doesn’t work.”
One league executive told HoopsHype: “To be honest, I think D’Angelo gets moved over the summer – not right now. The Warriors may try to package Russell and their 2020 first-round pick for a star since they’ll be in win-now mode next year.”
Kevin Knox available
Shams Charania on the Knicks’ pursuit of D’Angelo Russell: “As I reported this morning, the Knicks are another team that has engaged the Warriors in the last few days on D’Angelo Russell, trying to put together a package of expiring players, young players and picks. But none of their [offered] picks include their own first-rounders, which are going to be lucrative draft picks. One player that I am told they have included in talks is Kevin Knox, which is interesting – his inclusion in these potential deals. For a team like the Knicks that were in position to go after D’Angelo Russell in the summer.
Shams Charania: “I had heard there was interest from him in playing in New York after playing for the Nets and they didn’t do that. So now, they’re trying to put together a package of, potentially, Kevin Knox and Bobby Portis and different players like that and maybe throw in a draft pick. I don’t think that has shown any appeal to the Warriors and I haven’t gotten the sense that the Knicks would add Mitchell Robinson either, and that’s a player who I think would appeal to any team in the league. With both scenarios, with Minnesota and New York, there are hurdles but these teams have until Thursday to figure out who will bend between now and then.”
Shams Charania on the Warriors-Timberwolves talks for D’Angelo Russell : “The Timberwolves have engaged the Warriors since last month, when me and Jon Krawczynski reported that they had intensified their pursuit of D’Angelo Russell. They obviously went after him last summer as well, trying to sign him to a deal after wooing him in free agency. But they are pursuing him again and trying to make something happen. The reason issue with the Minnesota-Golden State talks stems from Golden State’s asking price being Minnesota’s picks – their first-round picks either this year, next year or the year after that, I’m told. That’s not something that the Timberwolves want to do, as far as them being unprotected.”
“When I got drafted, I was in a rumor,” Russell said. “I’ve been through it all. Not gonna lie to you. Any rumor you can think of, I’ve been a part of it. I’ve seen it (the last couple days). I can’t get away from it. You go on social, you see it. You go on TV, you hear it. You talk to the media, they ask you about it. Ain’t no getting away from it. But it is what it is.”
At the center of the storm is Russell, who does a terrific job of seeming pretty unbothered by it all. When he took the max from the Warriors this summer — knowing they already employed Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, two max guards and franchise pillars — he signed up for the label of trade chip. “It bothered me when we were further away from (the deadline),” Russell said. “But when we’re closer to it really happening, I’m numb to it. I’m just expecting a phone call. Let me know.” Will the days and hours before be anxious ones? “I’m ready for war,” Russell said. “Let’s get it. I’m ready for it. I don’t have no feelings toward it. I’m just ready for whatever happens.”
“I don’t know,” Russell said. “I really don’t know. I’m not losing sleep over it. I just want to be somewhere where it’s home and I can unpack my bags, but I’m so comfortable with being uncomfortable nowadays that it is what it is. It’s not something you can control, so if it happens sooner rather than later, you’re going find out just like everyone else — social, my agent calling me or whatever.”
Trade conversations between the Warriors and Timberwolves have reached an impasse, according to league sources. Minnesota has long been interested in acquiring point guard D’Angelo Russell, and it recently offered Golden State a package for Russell that included shooting guard Andrew Wiggins. But to seriously consider dealing Russell to the Timberwolves, Golden State would need a compelling haul of draft picks, per league sources.
Minnesota has been unwilling to include its 2020 first-round pick, which, given that the Timberwolves own the NBA’s fifth-worst record at 15-33, will likely land in the top-10. To contemplate shipping Russell to Minnesota, the Warriors would need that pick included. And if the Timberwolves did add it to their package, Golden State still wouldn’t necessarily be sold on trading Russell before the deadline. Though Wiggins has eased concerns this season about his ability to play in a team concept, the Warriors aren’t convinced that he could be a key cog on a title contender. Golden State also isn’t high on the pool of prospects expected to be available early in June’s draft, and it worries that top-10 picks this year won’t have the trade value they normally bring.
Connor Letourneau: For those asking about a D’Angelo Russell trade at the deadline: The Warriors will listen to offers, but it’d take a lot for them to part with Russell before they can see him with Curry again. I doubt Minnesota would offer anything that could compel GS to part with Russell now.
Knicks interested in D'Angelo Russell
The Warriors signed Russell to a four-year maximum contract in July and are said to be in no rush to move the one-time All-Star. The Knicks have also registered interest in Russell and discussed potential packages, league sources said. But the Warriors could choose to hold onto him until at least this summer to see if more deals materialize when they would no longer be hard capped.
The Knicks have registered interest with Golden State about trading for D’Angelo Russell, league sources confirm. It’s unclear how far along talks have gone, but Bobby Portis is one name that came up in the conversations, per SNY sources.
Per SNY sources, Frank Ntilikina’s name has also come up in conversations between the Knicks and Warriors around Russell. Some people around Russell said over the summer that he was open to the possibility of signing with New York because he liked the city and he was intrigued by the idea of competing so closely with the Nets — the team that decided to sign Kyrie Irving instead of bringing him back.
With the deadline looming on Thursday, the Warriors and Timberwolves remain engaged in trade conversations centered around D’Angelo Russell, league sources told The Athletic. There remain obstacles to overcome, but if the teams were to pull off a deal, it could be the closest thing to the kind of blockbuster that often highlights the frantic final days before the deadline.
So far in the Warriors-Timberwolves talks, Golden State would only consider a deal that has significant draft pick compensation as part of any Minnesota package, according to league sources. As a team currently in a rebuild, the Timberwolves are reluctant to sacrifice too much of their own draft capital in deals, including one for Russell.
Warriors listening to offers for D'Angelo Russell
Marc Stein: Many thought the Warriors would wait until draft time to seriously ponder moving D’Angelo Russell, but sources say they are listening to pitches — with no secret Minnesota wants D-Lo badly.
D'Angelo Russell trade unlikely for now
Although the Warriors politely avoid discussing or leaking details of prospective trades – consistently adhering to team policy – there is no question D-Lo will be traded. But, according to multiple NBA sources, probably not before next Thursday. “It’s possible, but I think they’re smart enough to wait until summer to get serious,” one league source told NBC Sports Bay Area on Friday. “Doubt it,” said another. “The only way it happens is if the Warriors get nervous and accelerate their plan. The old Warriors might have done that. I don’t see these guys doing that?”
There is, according to both sources, a chance the Warriors could engage the Timberwolves, who are ready to shed guard/forward Andrew Wiggins. Russell is good friends with Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns and the two have hinted their desire to be teammates.
Part of the motivation for Minnesota’s Russell chase, quite clearly, is his relationship with Towns. They are close friends. Towns was part of the contingent that pitched Russell hard this summer. The Wolves know that acquiring Russell not only gets Towns his preferred pick-and-roll partner but also buys them time and faith. The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need. But from a Warriors’ perspective, that’s still a questionable talent-for-talent swap. Most around the league view Russell as better than Wiggins. It’s a move only a panicked front office would make.
The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need. But from a Warriors’ perspective, that’s still a questionable talent-for-talent swap. Most around the league view Russell as better than Wiggins. It’s a move only a panicked front office would make. But the Warriors aren’t in a panic about Russell. Unless the Wolves unload the vault — something like Robert Covington and Josh Okogie plus a basket of appealing, unprotected picks — it’s wiser for the Warriors to wait until past this deadline on Russell and perhaps well beyond.
The deal moves the Wolves $2M further away from the tax line, but they were $7.9M below that line already – it’s hard to construct a trade where that ends up mattering. Which is where we get to the more specific opportunity cost involving Russell. If anything, Minnesota reduced its flexibility in this regard. Teague’s $19M contract could be aggregated with others as a salary match, which potentially matters quite a bit if there happens to be a certain player who makes $27.5M that you want to acquire. However, Crabbe’s $18.5M cannot be aggregated. A deal of Teague and Covington for Russell and Kevon Looney, for instance, seemed highly plausible (with draft picks thrown in). That is no longer on the table; now the only other contract they could pair with Covington’s in such a trade is the much less desirable one of Gorgui Dieng.
Wolves to intensify D'Angelo Russell pursuit
New team president Gersson Rosas and the rest of his front office have been actively pursuing deals on a number of fronts to try to remake the roster to better fit their vision for the team moving forward, league sources told The Athletic. That includes intensifying their pursuit of Golden State Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell. Discussions have yielded no traction to this point, league sources said. So far, Golden State has been inclined to keep Russell.
The Warriors, league sources said, have to this point not been inclined to move Russell, who is filling in as the primary scorer while Steph Curry and Klay Thompson recover from injuries. If they waited until this summer, the team will no longer be hard-capped and could look to package him in a deal for a player who won’t be buried on the bench behind the two greatest shooters in league history.
The good news for Russell, who has battled injuries of his own this season while averaging 23.2 points, six assists and 3.4 rebounds in 22 games for the floundering Warriors? A source with knowledge of the Warriors’ thinking deems it “unlikely” that he will be moved. And for those Magic fans who have been hoping for a Gordon-for-Russell swap, another source with knowledge of the Warriors’ dealings offered a hard “no” when asked specifically about that scenario.
Ben Simmons for D'Angelo Russell?
One of the interesting possibilities I’ve heard being kicked around is Russell for Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons. The 76ers could use a point guard who can score and run the show — and shoot. Some believe the pairing of Simmons and big man Joel Embiid isn’t viable in their pursuit of a championship. Simmons, as one source told me, is probably the best player the Warriors could possibly get for Russell, just considering the needs of the Warriors and their potential trade partners.
Rival teams that have talked to the Warriors say that the franchise is not searching for a D’Angelo Russell deal, unless it is one that blows them away. Warriors owner Joe Lacob and team executives Bob Myers, Kirk Lacob and Mike Dunleavy Jr. brought in Russell for a reason, and the belief is that the organization wants to see his acquisition through alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
D'Angel Russell wants to stay in San Francisco
In less than three months with the Warriors, Russell has found an environment that encourages his strengths. He is continuing to put up prolific stats, but has also become a mentor to several young players while trying to expand his game to complement Golden State’s championship core. “I would love for this to be home,” Russell said from his chair in the Warriors’ San Francisco practice facility. “I have a four-year contract. I would love to be here even three years. That would set my record.”
Russell isn’t comfortable talking about the Feb. 6 trade deadline. “Money doesn’t buy peace of mind, it doesn’t buy a sense of belonging, a sense of ‘This is my team,’” Kerr said. “If there’s speculation that you’re going to be traded all the time, I don’t care how much money you make, I don’t care who you are, that’s tough.” That hasn’t stopped Russell from bonding with his teammates, including Marquese Chriss, a 22-year-old former lottery pick who has played for three teams in four years. He goes to Russell’s home almost every day to watch basketball and play “Call of Duty.”
He’s not untouchable, but Russell represents a chance for the Warriors to extend their championship window. Everyone looks at the upcoming draft pick as an opportunity to find the next young, core piece. What about Russell? He’s a 23-year-old, former second-overall pick coming off an All-Star season and putting career-best numbers.
Sagar Trika: Woj says he thinks it’s more likely Golden State will wait until the summer to look at trading D’Angelo Russell rather than doing so in-season. Says it doesn’t make much sense for Golden State to canvas the league in-season.
The Pistons have been linked to Golden State Warriors point guard D’Angelo Russell if you want to go deep into the rumor mill. I checked in with another league source and was told there is nothing “interesting going on.”
Logan Murdock: Steve Kerr on the the trade rumors surrounding D’Angelo Russell: “If there’s speculation that you’re going to be traded all the time, I don’t care how much money you make, I don’t care who you are that’s tough. “This season has been nowhere close to what he thought it would be.” pic.twitter.com/QCPAATKoTb
Nobody expects the Warriors to trade Russell right when the clock strikes Sunday. But a crossroad awaits before August. When the Warriors eventually reform this team, with eyes on a 2020-21 title run, opposing executives wonder whether they’ll keep three guards who earn more than a combined $100 million per season or swap one to better balance the roster. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are the franchise staples, locked into multiyear pacts, cozy in their Bay Area mansions. They aren’t going anywhere. So the vulnerable one is Russell, the highly-paid newcomer with a tenuous future, unable to control where exactly he will spend the final three seasons of his recently signed four-year deal.
But Russell took the Warriors’ immediate $117 million max offer and a chance, however brief, to learn under NBA greatness, calculating that the extra cash and gained knowledge would be worth stepping into a storm of immediate trade chatter and a fourth possible NBA relocation. “I just don’t care (about the buzz),” Russell said. “Simple as that. I just don’t care. “When you say max contract to come in and learn from these guys as much as you can as quick as you can — because you don’t know when you’ll be gone, shipped out — that’s what I’m doing. I can’t control that. I can’t control if Bob Myers is like, yo, let’s go get such and such for this and make this pick. That’s his job. I can’t control it or say anything about it, especially if I’m a part of it. So I don’t waste energy worrying about it.”
Executives around the league have operated under the assumption, since the Durant-Russell deal went through in July, that the Warriors would flip Russell as a trade asset, probably as soon as possible. “It’s just going to come down to when they want to do it,” one exec told Heavy.com. “Could do it now. Could do it later. But they’ll do it.”
Yet as December 15 looms, the Warriors have been decidedly quiet on the Russell trade market, according to sources around the league. “If it is something that they’re going to do quickly, like before the end of this month, I wouldn’t say they’re pushing for it,” one general manager said. “Maybe they have a deal in mind, maybe they’re sitting on something and laying low. But I’d be surprised. That’s not how they’d approach it, I’d think. You want to create a market if you are going to trade a player like him, you want to pit teams against each other, drive up the price. You don’t want to lock into one deal. But the market thing, that’s not really happening yet. They’re not pushing the market for him.”
If the Warriors decide to investigate the market, some league executives believe it’s not unreasonable to think the Warriors could get another first-round pick plus a quality role player for Russell, especially if they’re able to construct a deal where they take back salary.
There is the option to trade Russell starting Dec. 15, something the Warriors have rejected as a possibility. There’s a long time between now and then, and such a move would really open up a lot of questions. So let’s wait on that topic and see how things develop. Short of that, though, the Warriors’ roster is what it is, and they have to hope to get healthy and stay healthy. The Warriors have three centers — Willie Cauley-Stein, Kevon Looney and Alen Smailagic — out with significant injuries and are scrambling to fill minutes in the frontcourt.
D'Angelo Russell a keeper?
Breaking news: There’s a strong possibility that the Warriors actually want their newest big acquisition for seasons beyond this one. Their front-office leaders, Joe Lacob and Bob Myers both, are as smitten with him as any team that just selected a top-5 player in the draft. Myers has heard the assessments of his trade and they appear to grate on him. As a general rule, the usually placid general manager dislikes the focus on the future at the expense of the present. On July 15, Myers told attending media of Russell, “We didn’t sign him with the intention of trading him,” before launching into an exasperated aside on how he understands that the modern media must jump along to an assume otherwise, that we are always engaged in a game of “what’s next?”
Since July, I kept hearing it consistently from Warriors officials: They didn’t get Russell just to trade him. I initially shrugged off this messaging as the Warriors pushing a narrative. They want Russell fully invested, I figured. If the Warriors aren’t perceived as bought into the new guy then he might be less inclined to buy into them. Plus, this could be a good initial position in negotiations. “Hey, I realize you want to trade for this guy, but our heart is set on him. You’d have to bowl us over.”
After doing a little digging, I’ve come to buy the Warriors front office on this one. I believe that the Warriors’ public messaging actually matches their private beliefs. While it’s nice to retain the “optionality” that comes with signing a 23-year-old max player, I don’t think that he was primarily acquired for his trade value. The front office’s first hope is that Russell flourishes alongside Curry and becomes a foundational piece.
The Warriors don’t have an imminent plan to trade Russell. They haven’t indicated to anyone that they definitely will. They’re not even allowed to until mid January. That buffer gives them a chance to see how this partnership works.
But the speculation isn’t unfounded. It’s coming from people who understand the game and business. It was an asset play by the Warriors. That asset may be in the form of a young guard who puts up 20 a game for them deep into his 20s. It may also be as a trade piece that delivers them a wing that rebalances the roster next summer or a bunch of draft picks to replenish the farm system.
On D’Angelo Russell being a tradable asset moving forward: “I’m trying to be nice, but that is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. A 23-year-old All-Star on a four-year deal better be someone you can trade easily, or we’re all idiots. Did we sign D’Angelo to trade him? No. We signed him because we had an opportunity to land an All-Star to replace the All-Star we were losing. Let’s not play conspiracy theory here.”
But I stand by my initial forecast: It may not happen until after next season, but Russell will eventually be dealt by the Warriors once Klay Thompson has recovered from a torn anterior crucial ligament in his left knee — thereby pushing Russell down to third on Golden State’s backcourt depth chart.
So they maxed him out, with both sides aware that, should it not work, the Warriors can always ship him elsewhere for value and Russell will still get his money. Russell acknowledged this possibility last week. Myers, on Monday, tried to downplay it. “We didn’t sign him with the intention of just trading him,” Myers said. “We haven’t even seen him play in our uniform yet and a lot of people have us already trading him. That’s not how we’re viewing it. Let’s just see what we have, let’s see what he is, let’s see how he fits.”
Speaking for the first time since acquiring Russell in a sign-and-trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets, Myers said the organization hasn’t decided whether Russell fits into the team’s long-term plans, despite speculation throughout the league that Russell could land somewhere else in the next year. “I know it’s been written and speculated. That’s fine,” Myers said Monday. “That’s what everybody’s job is to do. We didn’t sign him with the intention of just trading him. We haven’t even seen him play in our uniform yet, and a lot of people have us already trading him. That’s not how we’re viewing it. Let’s just see what we have. Let’s see what he is. Let’s see how he fits.
“Part of our job in the front office and the coaching staff and the organization is, ‘How does it all work?’ … So much of our sport at least, and maybe other sports, is, ‘What are you doing next?’ We got to figure out what we’re doing now.” Myers added: “We’re just happy that we got a young player that has a lot of upside, in our opinion, and we’re excited at the possibility of him in our uniform.”
While training in Los Angeles this summer, Russell plans to practice various situations he’ll see with Golden State. This is the type of preparation from someone who believes the Warriors could be his long-term home. And if it’s not? Russell won’t be shocked. If a chaotic NBA free-agency period has taught him anything, it’s that circumstances can change fast. “You put yourself in a position to go somewhere for a long period of time,” Russell said. “That might not be the way it is, and that’s the business. “Whatever situation I’m in, I understand the business side of it.”
D'Angelo Russell a rental for Warriors?
NBC Sports national NBA insider Tom Haberstroh, however, heard from league sources that the Dubs don’t see Russell as a piece to be flipped after this season. “Despite playing the same position as star point guard Stephen Curry, league sources shot down the notion that the Warriors aren’t acquiring Russell purely as a temporary rental,” Haberstroh said.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Warriors and Nets are on course to complete the sign-and-trade that will deliver All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell to Golden State on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN. Kevin Durant and his camp had to help work deal to completion overnight.
Andrew Perloff: “De’Angelo Russell does not fit there whatsoever. They just did not want to see Kevin Durant walk out the door with no compensation. … They will trade him. It’s just a matter of when.” – @TheSteinLine on @dpshow
The Nets moved swiftly to secure four-year agreements from new franchise cornerstones in Durant and Irving along with DeAndre Jordan. Brooklyn also agreed to a two-year deal with veteran swingman Garrett Temple. And before the clock struck midnight on the East Coast, the Nets were working towards a sign-and-trade that would send D’Angelo Russell, Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham to the Warriors. Brooklyn is expected to receive draft pick compensation as part of the sign-and-trade, a league source told The Athletic. The specifics were still being ironed out late into the night.
Anthony Slater: The price of the Warriors backcourt next season Steph Curry: $40.2 million Klay Thompson: $32.7 million D’Angelo Russell: $27.2 million Total: $100.1 million
Warriors acquiring D'Angelo Russell?
Adrian Wojnarowski: Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
Warriors acquiring D'Angelo Russell?
Shams Charania: Sources: Golden State and Brooklyn are close to a D’Angelo Russell sign-and-trade deal to the Warriors.
Shams Charania: Warriors are on verge of acquiring Russell, Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier from Brooklyn, league sources said.
GSW exploring a sign-and-trade deal for D'Angelo?
Shams Charania: Sources: Nets restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell is a player of strong interest for the Warriors in a potential sign-and-trade. Golden State has searched for avenues on Russell, and is still evaluating next moves.
The Nets view LeVert and Allen as core pieces long-term. Instead of using them as trade bait, the Nets kicked the tires briefly on talks involving D’Angelo Russell, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and a salary filler for Butler that never got any traction, league sources told The Athletic.
Kenny Atkinson: it’s a great second opportunity for D’Angelo. When i talked to him immediately after the trade, I felt like he was so enthusiastic. Luke [Walton] is a helluva coach, but I thought he was just looking for a fresh start. So we’re like a fresh program, fresh start, and I really hope that can jumpstart him.”
The Brooklyn Nets have acquired D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Brook Lopez and the rights to Kyle Kuzma, the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Mike Bresnahan: I’ve confirmed Woj report. Brook Lopez becomes a Laker. Team clears out major cap space with Mozgov leaving. D’Angelo Russell era has ended.
Adam Zagoria: The Lakers now have the 2, 27 and 28 picks on Thursday. Blazers also have 3 first-rounders. Nets only have 22 in first round.
Lakers trade Russell and Mozgov for Lopez
Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers are trading Tim Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell to Nets for Brook Lopez and 27th pick Thursday, sources say.
April 9, 2020 | 9:12 pm EDT Update
Gerald Bourguet: (5) Devin Booker beats (13) Rui Hachimura 71-55 in the quarterfinals of the NBA 2K Tournament. He’ll face the winner of (16) Derrick Jones Jr. and (8) Montrezl Harrell
Gerald Bourguet: (8) Montrezl Harrell beats (16) Derrick Jones Jr. 71-66 in the quarterfinals of the NBA 2K tournament, advancing to face (5) Devin Booker in the semis
Farbod Esnaashari: Montrezl Harrell and Derrick Jones Jr just showed more sportsmanship I’ve ever seen during an online game in my life. Jones: “Good game bro.” Trez: “Great game bro.” Jones: “Good luck in the next round.”
Will the NBA’s indefinite suspension limit what the Warriors do with the checkbook in the offseason? “We’re looking at all of those questions and the possible answers. But I don’t really have a good sense yet because I really have no idea how this is gonna shake out,” Lacob told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on Thursday morning. “We don’t know what the salary cap is gonna be, we don’t know what the luxury tax is gonna be. We don’t really know what we can plan on at this point. We just have to look at a lot of different scenarios. That’s what we’re doing right now. It could make a huge difference, it might make no difference.”
Former Notre Dame High School star, and current Marshall Thundering Herd junior standout, Jarrod West has announced he’s entering the 2020 NBA Draft process.
As Illinois goes through this together, the United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, is proud to be playing a critical role with our city, state and federal response to the pandemic. As announced on March 25, our arena and outside campus will be transformed into a logistics hub where we will be assisting with food storage for hunger relief, first responder staging and the collection of critically needed medical supplies.
Moving forward, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, will be utilizing the United Center as a satellite storage facility in response to the increased need for food. By alleviating space in the food bank’s warehouse, the Food Depository can bring additional volunteers into their facility to build more family food boxes in an environment that adheres to social distancing protocols. These boxes will continue to be distributed to those in need by the Food Depository’s partner network throughout Chicago and Cook County.
April 9, 2020 | 7:56 pm EDT Update
Pau Gasol contemplating retirement
With the league’s current campaign suspended indefinitely due to the global outbreak of the coronavirus, Gasol, who will turn 40 years old in July, is contemplating retirement at this point of his career. “With this recovery process and the injury that I have been dealing with for more than a year, it’s undoubtedly inevitable to think about retirement,” Gasol said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País, via NBC Sports. “Also, taking into account that I will be 40 years old in a few months. So, [retirement] is definitely on my mind.”
“It’s something that will come one time, sooner or later,” Gasol said of retirement. “We hope that time hasn’t come yet. But I also take the opportunity to focus on the Gasol Foundation and other off-court projects. And also think of what my next professional stage may be, my next challenges. All this while I’m still recovering, trying to give myself a chance to keep playing. Now, the priority is to overcome this pandemic among all. Everything else is completely secondary.”
The masks are among those Fanatics recently made at the company’s factory in Easton out of material usually used for uniforms for Major League Baseball jerseys for the Phillies and New York Yankees. So the police officers’ masks will be Phillies pinstripe masks.
In 2011, Jacob Hamilton was a 26-year-old cinematographer looking to expand his portfolio by directing a documentary. He came across a two-minute interview online titled, “The Man Who Invented the Jump Shot.” Four years later, Hamilton was screening his short film in Kevin Durant’s backyard, shocked to see one of the NBA’s best-ever jump shooters geek out over footage he’d gathered of Kenny Sailors from the 1940s. The film was still only halfway to the finish line. “Jump Shot” premiered at South by Southwest in 2019, but still hasn’t been released to the public. That will change next week, when the feature-length documentary will be available online April 16-18. Pre-order is underway at jumpshotmovie.com.
“Jump Shot” got two of its most important assists from NBA superstars Steph Curry and Durant. Hamilton had simply hoped for an interview when, through a connection between an executive producer and a chaplain for USA Basketball, the former Golden State Warriors teammates were introduced to Sailors’ legacy. The crew flew to Oakland and were invited to Durant’s home. Partway through the screening, KD asked for the film to be paused. Hamilton feared the worst, a bored millennial. In reality, the former Longhorns star was mesmerized. “These are moves that I’m doing today,” Hamilton recalls Durant telling them. “I was literally working on this in practice this week, and Kenny was doing this 60-70 years ago? This is unbelievable.”
Curry took his adoration a step further when he told Hamilton he was not only up for an interview, but wanted to get more involved. That’s how basketball’s greatest jump shooter became an executive producer. Both players are interviewed in the film, along with a lineup of basketball legends — from Dirk Nowitzki to Bob Knight, Nancy Lieberman and Clark Kellogg. Their astonishment at Sailors’ pioneering shot, particularly a photograph that appeared in Life magazine in 1946, will resonate with basketball fans.
April 9, 2020 | 6:35 pm EDT Update
Waiters, who’d been signed by Los Angeles less than a week beforehand and hadn’t even played a game with the Lakers yet, was watching the battle between Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic when the decision came down. “People start sending stuff, it got crazy,” Waiters told Sports Illustrated. “At that time, [the Lakers] were still trying to get all the information. Everybody found out at the same time.”
Waiters remained in Los Angeles to work out after the suspension, though those activities were soon banned. Then Waiters, like the rest of his teammates, was tested for the coronavirus in mid-March, a process he described as “terrible.” “They stick a Q-tip into your nose, it touches the front of your brain,” Waiters describes. “You start coughing and everything, it was the worst.”
When this all ends, whenever that is, what’s the one thing you’re most looking forward to doing on that first day? Dion Waiters: Just trying to hoop. Just vibe out and hoop. I’ve had damn near the whole season off. I’m trying to get back and hoop. I got something to prove at the end of the day. During this quarantine I’ve been dieting, getting my weight down, getting in shape. For me, it’s just playing basketball.
The partnership formed between Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls is allowing for the delivery of food and beverages to 2,000 healthcare workers at different Advocate and Rush locations across the Chicagoland area.
Without access to a studio or control room and with all cast and crew members isolated in their respective homes, it was impossible for “The Jump” to continue as a live, hour-long show with the high-level production value fans know and love. That is, until now.
Thanks to special software, iPad cameras, adjusted WiFi speeds, volume control, and “incredible ingenuity,” the “Live from Home” team — which comprises ESPN’s Remote Ops, Production, Production Ops, Creative Services, Transmission, Network Engineering, and Media Engineering teams — were able to pull off the spectacular feat of creating a live, hour-long daily show from their living rooms and basements.
“I am in such debt to the people who worked so incredibly hard on the technical side to make what I believe is still magic — there might be some elves involved, it is Disney after all,” ‘The Jump” host Rachel Nichols told Insider. “I can’t believe that they were able to figure out a way to produce an entire television show with everybody at home, not a single person in our television facility.”
April 9, 2020 | 6:29 pm EDT Update
If nothing else at a time when the Clippers have more questions than answers amid the NBA’s hiatus because of COVID-19, the team is confident in at least one thing to be true. Should the season resume, the same roster that had been dogged by injuries since last summer is on track to be the healthiest it has been. “The Kawhi [Leonard] we’ll see will be in phenomenal shape,” coach Doc Rivers said, adding that Paul George “is another guy that’s goig to be in phenomenal shape. Reggie [Jackson], who was injured when we got him, will now be healthy.”
Since there is a pause on all roster transactions across the league, the 10-day contract Noah signed remains in effect one month later. That has left the former defensive player of the year able to work into shape under the supervision of the team’s medical and performance staffs. “It’s been great for him,” Rivers said. “There are certain individuals who this rest period, or whatever this is called, has been a benefit, and Jo is one of them for sure because he’s got a chance now to get healthy, and to get in shape and that will be a factor for him. He will be a guy that will be able to help us.”
“I talked to Kevin Garnett on the day he went into the Hall of Fame and we had a long talk, but one of the things he actually said is, ‘Man, I can’t wait for the playoffs,’” Rivers said. “In typical KG fashion, ‘No excuses! Nobody should have any excuses! Everyone’s going to be healthy! Everyone’s going to be rested!’”
A whopping 72% of Americans polled said they would not attend if sporting events resumed without a vaccine for the coronavirus. The poll, which had a fairly small sample size of 762 respondents, was released Thursday by Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business. When polling respondents who identified as sports fans, 61% said they would not go to a game without a vaccine. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.6%.
Only 12% of all respondents said they would go to games if social distancing could be maintained, which would likely lead to a highly reduced number of fans, staff and media at games. For example, fan capacity for a Los Angeles Lakers or LA Clippers game at Staples Center is around 19,000.
Noordin Said, a beloved security official to NBA players and numerous musical artists, died Tuesday in New York after contracting COVID-19, his daughter confirmed to Yahoo Sports. Said’s mother, Anezia Clemons, who lived with him in New York, also died from COVID-19 approximately seven hours before her 56-year-old son, who died at 1:32 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
NBA star DeMarcus Cousins first hired Noordin Said to be his personal security guard in 2015 during All-Star weekend in New York. From there, the two hit it off, and Said worked the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2017 All-Star weekend in New Orleans at Cousins’ side. Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green hired Said to be his personal security guard during the 2018 playoffs, and Said worked this season with Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo at most home games.
April 9, 2020 | 5:21 pm EDT Update
As the coronavirus pandemic continues across the world, NBA owners are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. The league plans to keep all options to resume the season available for the time being, sources told ESPN, but the financial realities of the situation demand near immediate action. That has become clear in talks between the NBA, the National Basketball Players Association and player agents, sources told ESPN, as the league tries to get its finances in order in the event the rest of the season must be canceled.
The league’s CBA includes a force majeure clause, enabling owners to cancel games and recover salary in the event of a pandemic. This clause also gives the league a 60-day window within which it can rip up the CBA entirely — effectively beginning a work stoppage. No one wants to do that. But it underscores the gravity of the situation. Still, in recent years the two sides have worked as well together as ever, and the CBA isn’t set to expire until 2024.
The agreement between owners and players in the last CBA calls for roughly splitting revenue 50/50 and also splitting the coming losses. So, the owners want to hold back a percentage of players’ checks going forward — both giving them extra money they can use now, if needed, and also to help balance the books in the event some, or all, of the remainder of the season is canceled. From an economic standpoint, both sides would prefer to limit the pain of the shutdown to only this season and not start next season with IOUs on the ledger. Setting the money aside now would help do that.
Karnisovas, who was the only candidate to get multiple interviews the past few days – including a final conversation with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf – will be replacing John Paxson. A source said that Paxson will move into an advisory role, still being a sounding board for the Reinsdorfs — Jerry and Michael — and would only offer opinions in basketball matters if Karnisovas asks. This is completely Karnisovas’ show, and an important one.
Karnisovas will have full decision making over basketball operations, including the futures of Forman, head coach Jim Boylen, and the entire coaching staff. He was even asked about Paxson, and had the option of having the organization move on from the long-time Bulls executive if that’s what he desired. However, a source indicated that Karnisovas had no issues with the Reinsdorfs keeping Paxson around.
There were multiple reports that the search angered a handful of African American executives around the league, who felt like people of color weren’t involved in the searching process by the Bulls. A source close to the situation, however, indicated that not only did Michael Reinsdorf reach out to multiple minority candidates to try and get interviews – but was denied permission to do so by their current organizations, and in some cases simply turned down.
In an attempt to give fans an opportunity to help out those in need in the Central Florida community while also having a shot at winning a unique fan experience at a future NBA game, the Orlando Magic’s television and radio broadcasters will host an online donation drive in conjunction with the Christian Service Center.
April 9, 2020 | 5:10 pm EDT Update
His one concern, according to the source, is with Arturas Karnisovas now calling the shots, Boylen was at least hoping for a chance to sit down with his new bosses and discuss his year-and-a-half on the job before they make a final decision.
One of the most indelible images from the night the NBA shut down was a young girl crying at a Sacramento Kings game. Her tear-stained face and broken heart reflected how many people felt about the temporary end of life as we knew it and the indefinite stoppage of sports. That girl’s name is Sophie, and Kings player Harry Giles wanted to make her feel better. So he recently sent her and her brother a sweet video message. He apologized for the way their last game ended, and to make up for it, he invited them to a Kings game when sports are back underway. Not surprisingly, Sophie was extremely excited.
On Monday, Curry surprised an intensive care nurse and her fellow staffers with a FaceTime appearance in which the two-time NBA MVP shared how inspired he was by her dedication as a front-line healthcare worker.
Shelby Delaney of the Summit Medical Center in Oakland was one of the first nurses to volunteer to help coronavirus patients at the hospital. Curry made sure the 27-year-old knew how important that was. “I can’t thank God enough for what you’re doing and just the sacrifice, the selflessness and the way everybody’s coming together,” Curry told her on the call. “Thank you so much for just what you do, your heart and the inspiration you provide for everybody.”
April 9, 2020 | 5:02 pm EDT Update
Wizards not expecting John Wall back this season
Chris Miller: #Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard says it’s still not feasible for @John Wall to play this season despite the #coronavirus postponing the #NBA season. #RepTheDistrict
Candace Buckner: #Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard asked about preparing for upcoming draft: Says scouting group is doing video conference calls, talking in-depth about specific players and digesting game footage. At this point, Wiz have a lottery pick and second-round selection which would be No. 37
Beal offered this when asked by Lowe about the viability of resuming the season and what he is doing to stay ready: “We haven’t been doing anything for a month, going on two, who knows how long,” Beal said. “I think ultimately, not just for me, that plays a factor for everybody in the league. I don’t think anybody can come back and just go from zero to 100 and pick up right where we left off. There’s going to be some bad basketball if that’s the case…”
“I have an organization who basically gave me the keys,” Beal said. “‘We’re going to build around you. We’re going to get guys around like’ – if I go anywhere else, granted, it may be a good team, but I would be a piece. Who knows if my role would be the same? My role here is, I love what it is. I love [Scott] Brooks. I love what we have. I love our young guys. I think the fact that we actually have guys that are committed to getting better.”
Lowe opened the podcast by giving Beal the opportunity to address the omission: “I was angry, but I wouldn’t say I played angry because of that,” Beal said. “At the end of the day, I wanted to make the playoffs. The All-Star game was what it was. I’m not mad at you for your votes. For me, I will never take that moment away from the other 24 guys. Because that was me two years ago and a year ago. I can’t sit here and take that moment away from Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell and guys who got their first one.
Oleh Kosel: Griffin hopes teams get to model an offseason before games start if 2019-20 season resumes for conditioning/injury prevention. So equal time for both informal work & training camp (TC). Say if NBA schedules 2-week TC, players have access to work on games in prior 2-week period.
After tallying the votes from readers, Awful Announcing listed the team of announcers on YES’s broadcast of Nets games as the top NBA local broadcast. Voters were able to give letter grades from A to F. The YES team’s most popular grade was an A (72.73%), edging out the New York Knicks’ broadcast team by 2.58%.
April 9, 2020 | 4:50 pm EDT Update
Eric Gordon said he would not object to having a season restarted in a sequestered location, one of the ideas the NBA is considering. But he also indicated it is too soon to know if even that will be possible. “That sounds like almost our only option,” Gordon said. “That’s the only thing that can make sense. Just coop us up in a hotel for months and see if we can have that chance to have the season. It’s still a dicey situation, so we’re just hoping this virus calms down and goes away quickly. As of right now, it doesn’t seem like it is.”
