With the deadline approaching, trade rumors are flying throughout the league — with one member of the Golden State Warriors in the middle of it all. Since his arrival in San Francisco, trade buzz has swirled around D’Angelo Russell’s name.
With the Warriors struggling in his first season in Golden State, Russell has been connected as a trade target for multiple teams. There have been reports that both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks have tried to pursue a deal that would land one of them the 23-year-old All-Star.
Regardless of the trade noise, the former Ohio State Buckeye is still the leading scorer for the Warriors with games left on the schedule before the NBA trade deadline hits on Thursday.
On the Warriors off day before visiting the Brooklyn Nets in the final game of their five-game road trip, Russell spoke about seeing his name involved in trade rumors.
I’m comfortable with being uncomfortable right now in my profession — this time in my career a lot of teams, they want a point guard, and I’m bouncing around, why not put me in those talks and try to get me — so I understand the business side of what’s going on — it’s not nothing new of what I’ve been through — I can’t lie and say I don’t see it, I obviously see it. I have to answer questions about it, see it on social; I got to turn the TV on and hear about it — it is what it is.
D’Angelo Russell on the trade chatter surrounding him: “I’m comfortable being uncomfortable.” pic.twitter.com/B5VeHqnCje
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) February 4, 2020
The Warriors won their last game without Russell as he sat out against the Washington Wizards with a quad contusion. Reports indicate Russell is expected to play against his former team, Brooklyn, in the Warriors’ final game before the trade deadline.
By the time Golden State returns to the Bay Area later in the week, Russell will be able to fade the trade noise and focus on basketball, whether if it’s with the Warriors or a new team.