NBA Trade Rumors: 7 deals that should happen at the deadline
By Alex Saenz
*Warriors also receive a 2021 first-round pick (via Mavs)
D-Russ lands in New York
D’Angelo Russell cannot play with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson long-term, which is why he has been in the rumor mill from the minute that he put pen to paper. For Golden State, they get some assets that would help them build back up into a Finals contender. Knox and Ntilikina look like busts, but the Warriors can determine if the Knicks’ toxic environment was holding them back.
The Mavericks pick in 2021 will likely be in the late-20s, and Portis is just an expiring contract. This trade would also give the Warriors some much-needed breathing room below the hard cap.
New York gets a big-name who should help them climb back towards respectability. Russell has shown to be a floor-raiser offensively who can handle heavy usage. And he is still only 23 years old, so hopefully, the best has yet to come. The Russell/Barrett is a bizarre lefty backcourt, but maybe this pushes Barrett to focus more on his off-ball play and floor game.