D'Angelo Russell reportedly is headed to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade, and the Brooklyn Nets guard has a fan in one of his soon-to-be teammates.
In a Slyce Q&A back in March 2016, Curry offered his thoughts on the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He said Russell has a "total skill set."
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After reportedly losing Kevin Durant to the Nets and Andre Iguodala in a salary cap-clearing trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Warriors need to be great for them next season -- at least as things stand as of press time. That's because, well, there isn't all that much surrounding Russell, Curry and Co.
Russell made a leap in his fourth NBA season, averaging a career-high 21.1 points, 7.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds and finishing as a finalist for the Most Improved Player award. The 23-year-old likely won't be the same focal point of Golden State's offense as he was in Brooklyn, where he was used on 31.1 percent of the Nets' offensive possessions. That tied with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for 10th in the NBA, and it's fair to say Russell wouldn't match that with the Warriors in 2019-20 outside of the team's darkest possible timeline.
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Golden State Warriors
But Russell was an All-Star this past season, and he gives the Warriors a much-needed infusion of youth having just turned 23 in February. He's 17 days younger than Kevon Looney, who was the youngest Warriors regular last season. Outside of Golden State's recent draft picks -- including 2018 first-round pick Jacob Evans -- Russell likely would be its youngest player next season.
If Curry's 2016 comments are any indication, the two-time MVP won't mind counting on Russell alongside him.