In the fiercely competitive and ever-changing NBA league, every trade between teams is like a powerful bomb that can trigger a series of reactions, strongly impacting the nerves of fans. Recently, the Golden State Warriors' series of operations are like throwing a huge stone into a calm lake, instantly stirring up thousands of waves, becoming the focus of public opinion and drawing discussions from all sides.
The Warriors have shown great determination this time, sending D'Angelo Russell and three future second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in a straightforward manner. This move is not simple; they not only acquired guard D'Angelo Russell but also received an additional second-round pick. This seemingly ordinary exchange of players and draft picks actually carries profound implications, involving the team's current challenges, long-term development plans, and the ups and downs of individual players' destinies.
Let's take a look at the newly acquired Russell for the Warriors, who is not to be underestimated. So far this season, he averages 18.4 points and can deliver 6.6 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.7%. In intense games, Russell breaks through with keen insight into the situation, accurately passing to open teammates or scoring himself, igniting the court. The Warriors got him by paying only the injured Russell, who has only one year left on his contract, and two second-round picks; this deal is too good, like a shrewd merchant finding a bargain.
Russell's arrival immediately attracted attention, with everyone discussing the possibility of him integrating into the Warriors' tactical system. It should be known that each NBA team has its exclusive tactical framework, like a sophisticated and tightly fitting machine that requires compatible parts to operate efficiently. Russell's strong addition will inevitably squeeze some players' playing time. Whose position will be affected? Bogut's performance this season has been poor, lacking rhythm in offense and full of defensive loopholes; Moody has potential but is inconsistent; Hield has a good three-pointer but weak defense. These questions have sparked heated debates among fans and the media. However, as an immediate contributor, Russell can quickly join the court and perform efficiently, adding vitality to the Warriors, which makes this move quite clever for the Warriors.
However, amidst the bustling atmosphere, there is a figure that has gradually been neglected and forgotten, and that is Russell. If we go back a month or two, the situation was completely different. At that time, Russell firmly occupied the "treasure" position in the hearts of the Warriors' management, and he almost made it into the team's strongest five-man group this season.
Looking back on the Warriors' bumpy journey, their declining record has been like a gloom that is hard to dispel. Without mentioning external factors such as injuries and referee standards, the shortcomings of the team's core have become apparent at critical moments. When the game enters the white-hot finishing stage, elite players from all sides come out to engage in fierce competition, and at this time, the Warriors' weaknesses are like conspicuous holes in worn-out clothes. Under ideal circumstances where everyone is healthy, Curry, Wiggins, Green, and Kuminga can be considered relatively stable members of the closing lineup, but the remaining key position has always been difficult to find a perfect match.
Bogut's offense is chaotic, like a headless fly bumping around, with no rhythm, and frequent defensive mistakes, unable to shoulder the responsibility. Moody's state is unstable, so the coach dare not let him take the lead easily. Hield's defensive flaws are obvious, and he is always targeted by opponents at critical moments, with inaccurate shooting. TJD and Looney can protect some rebounds in the paint, but the offensive space is greatly compressed. When the opponent contracts the defense at the decisive moment, the Warriors' offense gets stuck. Players like Little Payton, Li Kyle, and Waters also have their own limitations and cannot fill this key gap.
In such a situation, Russell's advantages become particularly evident, like a universal key that can solve many problems. On the offensive end, his three-point shooting percentage exceeds 37%, which is quite remarkable, averaging a steady 2.2 three-pointers per game. This is not just eye-catching data; in tight moments, it is the deterrent power that can directly hit the opponent's vital point. Moreover, he handles the ball well, can create offensive opportunities, pays attention to his teammates' positioning while dribbling forward, and can timely deliver exquisite passes to drive the team's offense. On the defensive end, Russell is like a fortress for the team. Although his average of 1.2 steals per game is the lowest level of his career, it is enough to make opponents headache on the court. He is agile, can tightly stick to opponents, and can predict the passing lines, successfully intercepting the ball again and again and then launching counterattacks, catching opponents off guard. It is precisely these outstanding characteristics on both offense and defense that make him the most compatible backcourt partner with Curry, as if tailor-made according to the Warriors' tactical system.
Before the injury, Coach Kerr had keen insight and quickly saw Russell's extraordinary value, arranging him in the starting lineup early. Although Russell did not play many times, his playing time remained at a high level, which was a painstaking arrangement by the team to help him integrate into the team system as soon as possible, find the rhythm of the game, and reach his best form. The Warriors worked hard during the offseason, directly giving Russell the only full mid-level exception contract, which undoubtedly loudly declared his importance to the outside world, showing that Russell is the most critical part of the offseason acquisition. Imagine if the Warriors could later facilitate a major trade, using Kuminga as the core chip to bring in a top star like Butler, then at the critical moment, they could field a lineup of Curry, Russell, Butler, Wiggins, and Green, which would undoubtedly be extremely fierce in terms of offensive firepower and invincible in defense. At that time, the championship trophy seems to be beckoning to them not far away.
Fate loves to play jokes, and injuries came without warning, mercilessly shattering the beautiful plan. After Russell's injury, the team's original plan was completely disrupted. Now that Schroder has arrived, he can indeed solve some problems, such as improving the lack of ball-handlers on the bench, no longer relying on Bogut's unstable performance, and the bench has vitality. However, at the decisive moment, the hidden dangers in the team's lineup are still obvious. Schroder's shooting performance this season is okay, but shooting is not his most prominent ability. If Wiggins is not feeling well, and there are Schroder, Green, and Kuminga on the court at the same time, the offensive space becomes very crowded, relying only on Curry to create shooting opportunities outside, which is as difficult as ascending to the sky. Defensively, Schroder has a few tricks when chasing small guards, but the height disadvantage of the backcourt defense formed by him and Curry is too prominent, making it easy for opponents to exploit. Once the opponent executes a pick-and-roll, the problem of mismatched defense will immediately give the team a headache.
Russell's departure due to injury is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Warriors, like a sailing ship losing its key sail, making the road ahead even more difficult. However, the NBA is always full of variables, and teams and players need to constantly adjust and adapt in situations such as injuries and trades, seeking new developments. In the future, whether the Warriors can break through with their existing lineup in the league filled with strong Western Conference teams, and whether Schroder can truly integrate into the team to fill the void left by Russell's departure, remains uncertain. Only time can provide answers, and fans can only eagerly wait and observe the continuation of this basketball legend.