Golden State Warriors Roster: 5 Players Traded At Deadline, Andrew Wiggins Replaces D'Angelo Russell

The Golden State Warriors were as active as any team at the 2020 NBA trade deadline, making multiple trades to shake up the roster. Nearly half of the players that were on the team two weeks ago have been sent elsewhere, including their leading scorer.

Golden State has agreed to trade D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, a top-three protected 2021 first-round draft pick and a 2021 second-rounder, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Timberwolves also receive Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman in the deal.

About 12 hours earlier, the Warriors agreed to a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. Golden State gave up Glenn Robinson III and Alex Burks in exchange for three second-round picks.

The Warriors traded Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks for a 2020 second-rounder on Jan. 25.

Russell led Golden State with 23.6 points and 6.2 assists in 33 games this season. He made the 2019 All-Star team with the Brooklyn Nets. The point guard was sent to the Warriors in a sign-and-trade that allowed Brooklyn to acquire Kevin Durant this past summer.

Russell is in the first season of a four-year, $117 million contract.

Wiggins might be a better fit than Russell on Golden State’s roster next year when the Warriors expect to compete with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson back in the fold. Curry has only played four games in the 2019-2020 season with a broken hand. A torn ACL could cause Thompson to miss the entire season.

Wiggins is owed $94.7 million over three years after this season. His contract is considered to be among the worst in the NBA.

The former No.1 overall pick is a subpar defender, shooting 44.4% from the field and 33.1% from three-point range. Wiggins is averaging 22.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 42 games.

With a league-worst 12-40 record, the Warriors are likely headed for a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Minnesota has the second-worst record in the West.