Detroit Pistons Trade Rumors: How realistic is a trade for D’Angelo Russell?
By Ryan Love
Point Guard for Sale in Golden State
All signs point to the Pistons moving on from Reggie Jackson after this upcoming season – should he survive any trade talks before it ends.
With Jackson gone, Detroit will be on the market for its next starting point guard to pair with Blake Griffin for the last couple of years in his contract.
The Golden State Warriors agreed to a sign-and-trade for Brooklyn Nets point guard D’Angelo Russell late on the first night of free agency June 30. Russell will sign a four-year, $117 million deal is finalized.
Russell provides the offensive threat and second option for the Warriors with the departure of Kevin Durant and the ACL injury to Klay Thompson.
However, Thompson is expected to recover before the end of next season which would find him rejoining Russell and Steph Curry in a crowded backcourt. Keeping Russell would likely force Thompson to the small forward position where he could still be a strong defender but could face challenges from longer defenders when the ball is in his hands.
Thompson is an all-time talent as a shooter but is best equipped at shooting guard with the ease he gets his shots off.
Following the sign-and-trade, New York Times Reporter Marc Stein said on the Dan Patrick Show that the Warriors would almost certainly be looking to trade Russell.
"“Despite playing the same position as star point guard Stephen Curry, league sources shot down the notion that the Warriors aren’t acquiring Russell purely as a temporary rental,” Haberstroh said."
It should not be a shock to anyone the Warriors would not shout from a mountaintop that they don’t plan to trade a star they just acquired.