You’d be forgiven for skipping D’Angelo Russell on the early list of offseason acquisitions amid the most turbulent offseason in recent memory. The Finals MVP left the Raptors for the Clippers, and James Harden was reunited with his long-lost teammate Russell Westbrook in Houston. Russell’s arrival is the Bay Area may be a touch muted around the NBA. It’s hard being the next guy after Kevin Durant.
There’s no denying Golden State received a talented asset in its sign-and-trade with Brooklyn. Russell averaged 21.1 points per game as a 22-year-old last season, and he averaged career highs in nearly every statistical category.