FREE AGENCY TRACKER: DeAngelo Russell to Warriors, Andre Iguodala to Grizzlies

The Golden State Warriors are closing in on the sign-and-trade deal that will net them D’Angelo Russell.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are hashing out a sign-and-trade deal that will deliver Russell to Golden State on a four-year, $171 million deal. The sign-and-trade deal will include Golden State sending a protected future first-rounder to Brooklyn.

The Warriors knew that Kevin Durant was headed to the Nets and apparently decided to chart an alternate course, clearing a path for Brooklyn’s All-Star point guard, Russell, to head cross-country and join them.

Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported the acquisition was near and would also include Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier moving out West. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski soon confirmed the deal as did Mark Medina of The Mercury News, with Wojnarowski reporting the deal is for four years and $117 million.

In making this move, Medina writes, it appears unlikely the Warriors will retain free agents such as DeMarcus Cousins, Quinn Cook, Jordan Bell, Jonas Jerebko and Andrew Bogut. The Warriors own the Bird Rights to big man Kevon Looney, which will allow them to go over the salary cap to retain him if they so choose.

Russell, originally drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015, developed into an All-Star in Brooklyn. He averaged a career-best line (21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.0 apg, 43.4 FG%, 36.9 3P%) while leading the Nets to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They fell to the Sixers, 4-1, in the first round.

Napier established a role as a scoring guard off the bench (9.4 ppg, 17.6 mpg in 56 games). Graham, a swingman signed as a free agent heading into the season, provided spot duty across 35 games (5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 20.4 mpg)

Around the same time, Wojnarowski reported that the Warriors would be trading Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies, with a protected 2024 first-round pick attached.

Iguodala, who earned Finals MVP recognition in 2015, averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 23.2 minutes last season, his 15th. The 35-year-old’s contract, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, now comes off the Warriors books and slots into an exception the Grizzlies held as a result of the reported trade of Mike Conley Jr. to the Utah Jazz.