Steve Kerr on D-Lo: “To be honest, the fit was questionable”

Steve Kerr spoke for the first time since D’Angelo Russell left for Minnesota. And he delivered an honest and interesting analysis.

Arriving at Golden State last summer, D’Angelo Russell had a challenge ahead of him: convincing the Warriors that he could be a major player at home and adapting to their system. A few months later, the departure of D-Lo towards Minneapolis acts the failure of this enterprise, while Marcus Thompson of The Athletic put forward this afternoon the inability of Russell to raise two crucial aspects of his game to play Warriors: ball-less play and defense. Two deficiencies which will have been fatal to him in the eyes of the front office.

Of course, the former Nets player was not helped by the injury to Steph Curry, which prevented the two men from being associated. But Steve Kerr and the Warriors still got to see enough to realize that it was not going to match for next season. At least that’s what the coach explained to Anthony Slater’s microphone:

Read also | The Warriors have let go of Angelo Russell

I think, to be perfectly honest, the fit was questionable from the start when we signed it, and no one questions that. When you already have Steph and Klay and a guard carrying the ball arrives, it’s normal to find the fit questionable. This is one of the reasons why trade rumors started before the season even started. D’Angelo knew that when he signed the contract, and so did we.

A trade ended up happening. At least we were able to have 50 games to see what it might have looked like. It allowed us to see enough and long enough to see how the position was done.

Kerr does not deny that his roster is now more consistent after the move, but he is delighted to see D-Lo land in a situation conducive to feast:

So we had the impression that the other player (Andrew Wiggins, editor’s note) makes more sense, and in this case, it is true for both teams. I think D’Angelo is going to be in a very good situation in Minneapolis. They shoot a lot at 3 points, they have a pick-and-pop pivot… I also hope that Omari (Spellman) and Jacob (Evans) can play there. I always want it to go well for our players or former players.

By handling the words with dexterity as usual, Steve Kerr was clear: D’Angelo Russell was just not made for the Warriors, and he is happy to recover a player who sticks better to the needs of the team. It is said.

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