Commerce hypothesis surrounding the Golden State Warriors continues to accentuate, with the franchise’s current horrific type solely rising the probabilities of a big transfer earlier than the February 6 deadline.
Regardless of buying and selling for Dennis Schroder lower than every week in the past, the Warriors proceed to be talked about as one of the vital lively groups within the league with regards to making strikes within the weeks future.
Rating gamers just lately linked to the Warriors
Jimmy Butler continues to be the largest title linked to a possible commerce, with Brett Siegel of Clutch Factors suggesting Friday that Golden State “should completely be thought of favorites to commerce” for the 6x All-Star.
Nevertheless, the Warriors are clearly exploring all attainable choices, together with a variety of gamers at totally different positions and at totally different wage ranges. Seigel linked Golden State to as many as 9 gamers apart from Butler in Friday’s report, resulting in a wide-ranging dialog about what the entrance workplace may do and who it ought to goal.
Let’s rank the 9 gamers primarily based on their place, contract and what it could probably take for the Warriors to accumulate them.
9. Matisse Thybulle – Apparent go
Lengthy thought of among the finest defensive ends within the league, Matisse Thybulle has but to play for the Portland Path Blazers this season as he recovers from an damage. The 27-year-old is within the second of a three-year, $11 million contract this season, with a chance he’ll choose up his participant choice for subsequent season.
As a result of nearly as good a defender as Thybulle is, he has by no means averaged greater than 5.7 factors in a season and is a profession 33.8% 3-point shooter. Golden State already has sufficient gamers on the roster with offensive limitations, making Thybulle a futile addition that should not be thought of.
8. Bruce Brown – Apparent go
This is not the primary time Bruce Brown has been linked to the Warriors in current weeks, however he too, like Thybulle, has but to play this season attributable to damage. A key piece of the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 championship staff, Brown has an expiring $23 million contract and can probably be traded by the Toronto Raptors earlier than the deadline.
On condition that wage, it is onerous to see Golden State giving up a trio of function gamers for what would merely be a distinct function participant. As defensive guards for this cash, the Warriors ought to have little curiosity and will as an alternative goal measurement and offense.
7. De’Andre Hunter – Move
De’Andre Hunter’s numbers thus far this season have been terrific: 19.8 factors and 4.1 rebounds per recreation on 48/45/87 capturing splits. Is that this a dependable indication of what he can do sooner or later, or is that this a brief stretch that would give the Atlanta Hawks the proper alternative to unload him?
Incomes $21.7 million this season and owing greater than $48 million over the subsequent two years, it is onerous to think about the Warriors taking the chance of discovering out. It is onerous to see the place Hunter would match and what profit he would truly carry to a staff that’s nonetheless attempting to ascertain a deep playoff run.
6. Dorian Finney-Smith – Perhaps
Dorian Finney-Smith might present much less upside than Hunter as the same 3-and-D wing, however he additionally makes almost $10 million much less, making it a lot simpler for Golden State to match the wages. The Brooklyn Nets are additionally more likely to be extra motivated than the Hawks to make a commerce, because the Warriors’ deal for Dennis Schroder lower than every week in the past proved.
Finney-Smith is presently averaging 10.8 factors and 4.3 rebounds with the Nets this season, whereas capturing 47.4% from the ground and a really spectacular 45.2% from 3-point vary.
5. Donte DiVincenzo – Perhaps
Donte DiVincenzo has had a tough time in Minnesota since his inclusion within the blockbuster commerce that despatched Karl-Anthony Cities to New York simply earlier than the season began. The 27-year-old’s scoring dropped from 15.5 to eight.5 factors per recreation on 32.5 p.c capturing from three after 40.1 p.c final season.
Contemplating they simply traded for Schroder, it is onerous to see Golden State buying and selling for an additional guard earlier than the deadline. Nevertheless, DiVincenzo has historical past with the franchise and signed a team-friendly long-term contract assuming he can return to someplace close to his greatest.
4. Jonas Valancuinas – Perhaps
On the floor, Jonas Valancuinas does not notably really feel like a Warrior fashion participant. In saying that, the identical could possibly be stated of Schroder and Golden State has at all times traded for him as a result of he appears to unravel some crucial issues.
You may make the identical argument for Valancuinas who would immediately present an offensive improve to Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Whether or not Steve Kerr would truly use him sufficient to make it worthwhile is a totally totally different query, nevertheless it’s value looking if he does not require a first-round choose (which shall be most likely the case).
3. Kyle Kuzma –
If the Warriors need to take part in commerce discussions with the Washington Wizards, they need to be extra thinking about Kyle Kuzma than Valancuinas. The 2020 NBA champion is having an injury-interrupted season, however has in any other case averaged over 21 factors and 6.5 rebounds in every of the final two years.
Golden State wants extra measurement and offensive punch, which Kuzma can present at 6’9″. The 29-year-old can be on a declining contract over the subsequent two seasons, making him a gorgeous goal for numerous groups earlier than the deadline.
2. Cameron Johnson – Very
Cameron Johnson continues to not damage his commerce worth, with 33 factors, 10 rebounds and 6 assists Thursday towards the Toronto Raptors. The 6’8″ ahead is now averaging 19.2 factors on 43.1% capturing from 3-point vary, making him the same choice to Kuzma however extra environment friendly and certain a greater slot in Golden State’s system.
The Warriors may have tried to broaden the Schroder commerce to incorporate Johnson, however opted to maintain it simplified at this level. That is to not say issues may change earlier than the deadline, particularly in the event that they’re keen to surrender former seventh general choose Jonathan Kuminga.
1. Nikola Vucevic – Very
One other one who is not doing something to harm his commerce worth, Nikola Vucevic is presently averaging 20.9 factors, 9.7 rebounds, and three.3 assists this season with a 59/48/86 capturing time. The 2x All-Star would carry defensive issues to the Warriors, however his spacing on the fifth spot would carry a complete new ingredient that the franchise desperately wants.
Vucevic additionally makes barely lower than Johnson and Kuzma from a wage standpoint, and might also require much less surrender from an asset standpoint. This can be a high-upside play that probably carries little threat, maybe exterior of the chance price of going after Butler or one other star participant.
