When the Warriors traded Willie Cauley-Stein for a late second-round pick two weeks before the trade deadline, they announced to the NBA that they are, indeed, sellers.

Golden State is trying to make the most of a lottery-bound season and, with several other teams in the mix to make the playoffs, have players who could be of league-wide interest.

Really, the Warriors have been in asset-collection mode since Kevin Durant’s decision to sign with the Brooklyn Nets last summer. Upon Durant’s decision, they executed a sign-and-trade to acquire D’Angelo Russell, a move that triggered a hard cap, preventing the Warriors from maximum salary cap flexibility this season.

That salary cap restriction has forced the Warriors to get creative in filling out their roster (signing, waiving and re-signing Marquese Chriss to a two-way contract, for example) but it’s not as if they were planning to spend much more.

On track to pay the luxury tax, ownership may cringe at paying extra for a team with the league’s worst record.

So, as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches, the Warriors have two objectives: acquire assets (young players, draft picks, etc.) to help in their rebuild and, potentially, reduce payroll. But first, what will they do with Russell?

What is the plan for D’Angelo Russell?

It’s widely known that Minnesota is still in hot pursuit of Russell, who they view as an ideal pick-and-pop partner with Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves’ star center and one of Russell’s best friends.

According to The Athletic, the Timberwolves have called about the 23-year-old point guard during this season, but the Warriors have shut down trade conversations.

The Warriors want to see Russell play alongside Steph Curry before making a decision on his future, multiple team sources have told Bay Area News Group.

After all, young, All-Star caliber point guards with shot creating ability are a commodity. Russell and Curry have played only 74 minutes together and the results were clunky. However, midway through the season, head coach Steve Kerr has been encouraged by Russell’s developing ability to play off the ball.

His burgeoning two-man game with Draymond Green — similar to Curry and Green’s partnership — is helping the organization project how Russell may fit into the framework of a championship contender.

“I think D’Angelo’s been great,” Kerr said following Golden State’s loss in Philadelphia. “D’Angelo and Draymond were really good together, and I think that has been something that we’ve seen improvement with over the last few games.”

If Curry can return for 20-or-so games this season, that will provide a valuable sample size. While Russell’s fit with Curry on offense (and the inherent limitations of that backcourt on defense) are worth monitoring, it’s also important to note how Russell can help buoy the offense when Curry is on the bench — minutes that have long been a negative during the Kerr era.

While teams like the Timberwolves are interested now, it’s more likely the Warriors would trade Russell this summer, when there should be more options. The Timberwolves would likely build a package around Robert Covington or Andrew Wiggins and draft picks but, if the Warriors aren’t interested now, why would they be over the summer?

Some regard Covington as a better fit. He would allow Thompson to play the 2 and provide versatile defense, but he struggles to take players off the dribble and has a track record of fading in the postseason: limitations that would make him a clunky fit in Kerr’s go-go motion offense.

Golden State isn’t interested in hoarding draft picks. The Warriors would rather get players who help in the near term. They think their championship window is open for the next four years.

Other teams that could be interested included the Pistons (if Andre Drummond opts into his player option), the Magic (though they are encouraged by Markelle Fultz) and the Suns (in a package centered around Kelly Oubre).

Some stretch possibilities:

Would the Pelicans be willing to trade Jrue Holiday in order to align their point guard’s age with that of Zion Williamson?

Would the Spurs package LaMarcus Aldridge and another young guard to pair Russell with Dejounte Murray?

How Russell plays the rest of the season will determine how much the Warriors would ask for in return. If a clear roster upgrade isn’t available, they’ll just keep him.

The Warriors determined Cauley-Stein wasn’t a long-term fit, so they traded him (and his player option for next season) to create more immediate flexibility. Golden State is higher on Burks, who has emerged as a valuable bench scorer on a team-friendly $2.3 minimum contract.

Though he’s a limited playmaker and defender, he could also provide a scoring punch that Golden State’s bench has lacked over the last several years if he re-signs next season.

His padded stats could earn him a more lucrative offer this summer — more than the $3 million or mid-level exception they can offer — but, after the Cauley-Stein trade, the Warriors don’t have a sense of urgency to move him before the deadline. If they don’t find value in return, they could just roll the dice in free agency.

It could take a high second-round pick to pry him away. Would the 76ers, Clippers or Thunder part with a pick?

Who else could be traded?

Glenn Robinson III, also on a minimum contract, is a “3-and-D” player who could draw a surprising amount of interest. Quietly, he’s third on the team in scoring over the last month, and has been the Warriors’ most trusted wing defender, guarding the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden this season.

Interestingly enough, it’s the teams who are led by those stars — both Los Angeles teams and Houston — that make the most sense for Robinson.

However, the Warriors like how Robinson has raised his game this season and are bullish on his ability to play alongside Curry, Thompson and Green next season. He runs the floor well, makes open shots, and has proven he can hold his own defensively.

The Warriors are willing to listen to offers but, at this point, may value him more than other teams do. The only wrinkle is whether or not they think Robinson will return as a free agent. Both sides have been happy with the partnership so far.

Worth monitoring is that Green’s trade restriction is lifted today, Feb. 3, six months after he signed his four-year, $100 million extension on Aug. 3.

And what about the luxury tax?

If the Warriors try to avoid paying the luxury tax, it would take trading away several players and more cap gymnastics.

In addition to Burks and Robinson, they could look to trade one of their second-year players, Jacob Evans or Omari Spellman.

Evans, in particular, seems poised to be squeezed out of next season’s backcourt rotation. The Warriors would likely have to attack a pick (possibly from another trade) to get another team to take him.

Spellman is under contract for next season after the Warriors picked up his third-year option early this season, and Kerr likes his ability to space the floor.

If ownership sees a way to duck what will be nearly a $40 million repeater tax bill, one of their contracts makes sense to move, with the more ideal player being Evans.

Another way to avoid the tax is by trading Kevon Looney, who signed a three-year, $15 million contract last summer. But because he’s missed 40 games with various injuries and a complicated neuropathic condition, teams will be wary. Plus, the Warriors are still high on his long-term fit.