The Golden State Warriors seem keen so as to add an enormous shooter to the equation earlier than the Feb. 6 deadline, particularly if Steve Kerr’s feedback after Friday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers are to be believed.
Kerr famous how issues opened up offensively for the Warriors throughout Quinten Put up’s restricted minutes within the second half, and acknowledged that he and common supervisor Mike Dunleavy Jr. had talked concerning the thought of buying a streak 5 so as to add to the present checklist.
Whereas Nikola Vucevic is probably not the identical caliber participant because the a number of stars who’ve been closely linked to Golden State over the previous 12 months, the Montenegrin would fill the large taking pictures void amid an important season with the Chicago Bulls.
Insider downplays Nikola Vucevic’s potential affect on Warriors
Vucevic added 18 extra factors, seven rebounds and three assists in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, ending with a +2 ranking in 33 minutes regardless of his crew’s five-point loss. The 2x All-Star is now averaging 20.2 factors, 10.1 rebounds and three.3 assists on the season, taking pictures 55.7% from the ground and 42.9% from 3 factors.
Regardless of these numbers, ESPN insider Tim Bontemps wildly downplayed Vucevic’s potential affect on the Warriors, suggesting that giving up any property for the 34-year-old can be a very good factor. “like placing lipstick on a pig.”
“Nik Vucevic is an 82-game participant, not a 16-game participant,” Bontemps mentioned throughout a current look on The TK present with Tim Kawakami. “Nik Vucevic does not change the future of this Warriors crew. He simply does not… If he is on the Warriors, it is arduous to see them getting out of the primary spherical of the playoffs this yr if he performs an actual position due to his defensive skills and the unfavorable facets of his recreation.
Whereas it is arduous to disagree with Bontemps’ evaluation, Golden State’s current type, the place they’ve misplaced 16 of the final 23 video games, signifies that making the playoffs would truly be a very good final result contemplating their present scenario.
The ESPN insider is correct, although: What good is a first-round exit if a commerce for Vucevic hurts the entrance workplace’s means to tug off a blockbuster commerce for a celebrity within the offseason? Vucevic is not more likely to catapult the Warriors right into a deep playoff rivalry, even when his sheer menace as a taking pictures heart has extra affect than Bontemps expects.
That is the place worth is so necessary and what commerce can seem like. If Golden State may get Vucevic for the expiring contracts of Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, a few second-round picks and one every of Buddy Hield or Kyle Anderson, then it looks like a no brainer provided that it would not hamper their offseason. an excessive amount of industrial flexibility.
But when we’re speaking a couple of first-round decide, that is the place Dunleavy and the Warrior entrance workplace could have an enormous debate. Even somebody like Moses Moody might be thrown right into a commerce with Vucevic proper now, however that will eradicate the potential for transferring him when his impending extension is simpler to maneuver later.
The Warriors are compelled to do one thing earlier than the deadline, it simply stays to be seen what and what affect it might need on a season that’s at present headed towards mediocrity.
