What If the Golden State Warriors Never Traded for D'Angelo Russell?

What If the Golden State Warriors Never Traded for D'...

By Jason Bolton August 09, 2024 02:52

Photo by Getty Images

When Kevin Durant left the Golden State Warriors for Brooklyn in free agency, it signaled a new era of basketball in Golden State and what would theoretically be rebuilding years as his squad regrouped. This article will break down what the Warriors may have looked like if they did not get Russell and how it would affect their roster and play on the court in a hypothetical world for all seasons following that one fateful summer.

The Roster Without D'Angelo Russell

With Durant gone, the Warriors had a giant hole in their offense and someone who could make plays. His durability has been one factor in Golden State's past success, as his supplied scoring and two-way versatility at both ends of the floor. The Warriors would have been thrust into depending on Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson whenever he returned from injury, and Draymond Green even more so than they were before the trade, with a combination of prospects high-upside pieces Damion Lee, Jordan Poole, Eric Paschall holding down additional minutes.

Team Dynamics and Performance Effect

Stephen Curry: For a team that has seemingly been better served with him not taking all the shots, and now without Russell around to help carry on offense, much of this could have fallen back onto his shoulders. Curry is a one-person show and would have a device to get double teams thrown at him all game.

Klay Thompson: Rust isn't much of a concern as it would be for other players since he was already coming off an ACL tear in the prior season, and there'd have been no extra cushion on his return to form had Russell not been brought. But without Russell's scoring, Thompson may have been forced to expand his role even faster at the outset of a recovery that would introduce their all-time leading perimeter weapon in increments or face further injury setbacks and a slower ramp-up back into high-level performance.

Draymond Green: Coach Kerr would rely tremendously on Green's playmaking ability. If defenders were overplaying Curry and Thompson, it could have made everyone else's life more difficult trying to create something out of nothing.

Lack of Offensive Depth:

The Warriors' bench would need more expectation to score. Without Russell, their bench unit was denied a consistent source of scoring that could have resulted in ample droughts along these lines. A real shortage of depth could have made it easy for the Warriors to lose leads or touch in contests they might be able to win.

Roster Construction and Player Development

Development of Young Players:

Without Russell around, that might have led to more playing time for guys like Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall. Although this helped them grow quickly, it could also have been the reason for their underperformance. This young team shouldered the difficult task of replicating that production as they battled through their growing pains.

Younger players would have had fewer opportunities to contribute, which might have forced the Warriors to play veterans more often if they had been needed for stability.

Team Chemistry:

For most of the regular season, Russell changed things with a different energy in Dub Nation. The Warriors might not have an overall identity for quite some time without him, especially moving through the transition out of Durant. This created the potential for zero chemistry to result between Russell and said core players, with an absentee team atmosphere.

Offseason Plans, Timeframe, and Trade Results

If this trade of Russell had not happened, the Warriors would have had to look at other options if they wanted to improve their roster and lineup for next season. They may have chased different free agents or trades to help offset that lack of scoring. This means the Warrior's roster would have been much different, and in some cases, drastic overreaction could force them to look at a whole new group of players who may not be as good fit as Russell was with their system.

The Warriors, meanwhile, would have lost valuable financial flexibility. The Warriors invested a lot into inking Russell into the deal. If not for that contract, Golden State would have more cap space this offseason to attempt to bring on other big names or have enough money to keep whomever.

Championship Aspirations

Playoff Positioning:

Injuries to several key players, including Thompson and Curry, played a big part in the Golden State Warriors' 2019-20 season, which saw their worst record since '01. But if they didn't land Russell, that would have erased almost any chance to get a sniff at the playoffs. A lack of offensive firepower would have put a dent in their ability to compete with what has otherwise been an increasingly competitive Western Conference.

Despite last season's struggles, the Golden State Warriors would have been even worse off without Russell and his scoring prowess. But the lack of a scorer beside him could have put them behind in close games, and if it had been, it might not have meant anything but a playoff spot.

Championship Aspirations:

It drastically changes the Warriors' title hopes. Curry and Thompson were primarily responsible for the scoring, meaning that they both had to perform at an elite level day in and day out, or else their championship hopes would need a miracle. The depth and versatility that built the Warriors' dynasty would have teetered. Failure to replace Durant's production would have, in all likelihood, meant a long stretch of mediocrity and potentially killed his franchise down the road.

Acquiring Russell ultimately was strategic, offering the Dubs a way to ensure competitiveness in an evolving league. The Warriors might live in a different world without him, which could have shifted their franchise history.

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