Russell excited to join Warriors but knows he may be moved again

The Golden State Warriors may not have long been on D'Angelo Russell's radar ahead of free agency, but the guard is ecstatic to be joining Stephen Curry and Co. next season.

"Honestly, I'm excited," Russell told ESPN's Nick Friedell. "I'm excited more than anything.

"I think it's a huge opportunity just to take another step and learn from a good group of guys that have done - and marked their way in this league, so I'm super excited."

The 23-year-old signed a four-year, $117-million max contract this offseason as part of a sign-and-trade that sent superstar Kevin Durant to the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn also shipped Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham to Golden State in the deal.

Russell said he doesn't fault the Nets for cutting him loose after they brought in fellow All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. He also knows there's a possibility that his stint in San Francisco may not last very long.

Though Russell can't be dealt again until Dec. 15, there's been league-wide speculation that Golden State will eventually flip him for other assets, Friedell noted. December would also fall in line with the expected five-to-seven months of recovery for injured Warriors guard Klay Thompson, whose void Russell is expected to fill.

Russell concedes that he doesn't know how long his Warriors tenure will last, but added that he's come to terms with the harsh realities of the NBA.

"That's the business of it," he said. "It is what it is. You put yourself in a position to go somewhere for a long period of time, and it may not be what it is a year later. And that's the business.

"I've come to a realization of that, and I understand that, so whatever situation I'm in, I know the business side of it, so we'll just see. I can't predict it."