After going a powerful 12-3 in 15 video games to begin the season and securing the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention, the Golden State Warriors then misplaced 5 straight video games in a stunning flip of occasions.
Their newest loss got here towards the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night time by a rating of 119-115, a recreation the place the Warriors had been as soon as once more unable to remove the opposition after taking an 11-point lead with 6:13 to go. play within the fourth quarter.
Golden State’s struggles had been exacerbated by the play of 2023-24 First Staff All-Rookie Brandin Podziemski, as his poor decision-making on turnovers and three-point taking pictures fouls helped convey the momentum in favor of Denver in the direction of the ultimate minutes.
Podziemski’s putrid sophomore season has turn out to be a precedence for Golden State to start this season, as his common of 8.0 factors on 21.1 % taking pictures from distance falls far in need of the anticipated offensive bounce that the entrance workplace of the franchise thought he would.
With effectivity changing into a problem for the whole group throughout their five-game skid, Warriors basic supervisor Mike Dunleavy may choose up the cellphone to ask a few 24-year-old former lottery choose who’s making his personal bounce for the Toronto Raptors. .
After being chosen 14th total by the Utah Jazz within the 2022 NBA Draft, Ochai Agbaji was traded to the Raptors halfway by means of the 2023-24 season.
In his first full marketing campaign with Toronto this season, the 6-foot-5 taking pictures guard has established himself as one of the environment friendly gamers at his place in the whole league.
In 23 appearances for Toronto this season, Abgaji averaged 11.7 factors, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals, coupled with a 53.3% taking pictures break up from the sector and a blistering three-point proportion. of 48.4%, are all profession bests.
Agbaji additionally improved defensively, racking up career-high numbers with each a 115.9 defensive score per 100 possessions and 0.5 defensive field plus-minus.
Along with his standing as a rising two-way menace and extremely environment friendly offensive producer, Golden State may naturally be tempted to accumulate Agbaji and preserve management of their group till he hits restricted free company in the summertime of 2027.
To land Agbaji, Golden State ought to take into account buying and selling Podziemski.
Whereas he could be the perfect long-term choice and positively the simplest defensive participant, buying a star commodity like Agbaji could be a chance the group cannot afford to cross up.
Extra NBA: Celtics celebrity Jaylen Brown attributes his excessive play to when his celebrity teammate is out.
