With De’Anthony Melton out for the season, his $12.8MM expiring contract should become a useful trade chip for the Warriors, Jake Fischer said on Friday in his latest Bleacher Report live stream (video link). As Fischer acknowledges, Melton’s expiring money and Non-Bird rights will have little value on their own, but attaching draft picks or players to him could create an attractive outgoing trade package for Golden State.
Discussing what kind of player Golden State may target with that sort of package, Fischer suggests a frontcourt addition is a possibility. The Warriors had interest in Kelly Olynyk at last season’s deadline and believe he’d be a good fit for their system, according to Fischer, who adds that the club may also consider more of a rim-running big man.
However, Fischer wouldn’t be surprised if the Warriors seek out a more direct replacement for Melton. As he explains, Golden State was high on the veteran guard not only for his fit next to Stephen Curry but because he gave the team a second lockdown point-of-attack defender to complement Andrew Wiggins. Finding another player who could fill that role could be a priority for the front office.
Here’s more from Fischer:
- The Bulls are “more willing than ever” to discuss forward Patrick Williams in a trade, says Fischer (video link). Williams is in the first season of a five-year, $90MM deal and continues to experience foot pain following a February surgery, so his value would likely be limited at the moment, but that could change if he shows he’s healthy and begins to produce more consistently.
- Fischer continues to hear that the Lakers are scouring the market for a center, with Jonas Valanciunas‘ name still coming up frequently. The Wizards‘ big man is “definitely available for trade,” Fischer says (video link).
- While Fischer also brought up Robert Williams as a possible option for the Lakers, he says he has talked to people around the league recently, including scouts, who believe the Trail Blazers may be more inclined to trade Deandre Ayton than Williams at this season’s trade deadline. Given that Ayton’s cap hit is nearly three times higher than Williams’, the Blazers may have a hard time extracting much of value for the former No. 1 overall pick.
- Fischer suggests there are NBA veterans currently playing overseas or for national teams who will soon be looking to sign G League contracts (video link). Robert Covington, currently representing Team USA in AmeriCup qualifiers, is one player to watch, Fischer reports. There also may be some players returning stateside from the Chinese Basketball Association, since several who signed in China have received month-to-month contracts.
- Writing for Marc Stein’s Substack, Fischer shared some ideas for in-season tournaments that the NBA considered before settling on the current format. One idea on the league’s “long list of half-baked ideas,” according to Fischer, was a 32-team single elimination event that would’ve included two marquee teams from Europe.
Who is even available that can play that SG/PG hybrid role alongside Steph as a starter?
Bruce Brown. Would be a great fit, provided he’s healthy.
Lakers could also target Boucher as a small C/PF.
Dennis Schroeder is a more offense-oriented version; very solid playmaker, better as an option-scorer as shown in his OKC stint, comfortable playing either backcourt spot. Longer wingspan than is typical for a guard of his size props up his defense as well.
IMO, the “hybrid PG/SG” profile isn’t what GSW seeks to replace. Melton fit as the big guard that fits Kerr’s read-and-react offense, and can shoot on the move. Think pre-injury Klay Thompson. This is why Kerr is starting Lindy Watters, and, not Moses Moody.
Podz is the backup PG. Melton’s ball-handling was nice, but secondary to his offensive package and defense. Kerr sees Steph, Podz, and in an emergency, Anderson, as his PGs.
Schroeder is a nice PG, but doesn’t fit this profile. He’s a 34% career 3pt shooter and too small
to play alongside Steph.
Exactly how are you going to trade Patrick Williams now? You’ve sucked any possible value he had by playing him in the wrong position ever since he got here. Not to mention you over drafted him in the first place. Then you tacked on a ridiculous salary for him that nobody will take on and now you say you want to trade him? The time to trade him was this off season BEFORE you gave out the dumb contract. WAKE UP! It’s not funny anymore.
It’s beyond ridiculous. Like how do they expect anyone to take them seriously? What possible return could they get for him at this point?
And if you want to trade him, like you said, how about before overpaying him? Or not waiting until an inevitable injury?? And then maybe not compounding by announcing you want to dump him??? The incompetence is staggering
Bulls are genius. Perfect time to get a great return on a guy.
In all seriousness, maybe it actually is good timing since if he can’t play, ppl will forget about his 4-year long Tony snell impression.
Lakers are looking to mess up something that is working nicely just to satisfy AD’s weird desire of being a PF instead of a center
Especially when the only thing that will change is what he’s introduced as when the starters are announced.
You can’t go back and watch his highlights from any game last season and tell if he was introduced as a center or as a power forward
Melton + Kuminga and picks/swaps for Poeltl or Myles Turner works well I think.
Kuminga is a bit restricted in GS and might blossom with a bigger role elsewhere. Acquiring team gets a few months to assess his RFA value.
Warriors’ biggest issue to me is handling Zubac, AD, Jokic. I think GP2 and Wiggins can shoulder the point of attack D. Would be nice to have a top-10 C who isn’t a liability at either end and is low maintenance too.
This scenario assumes the Pacers don’t turn it around and are willing to shop Turner before free agency. If pacers pull back into contention by the deadline I’d target Poeltl.
Robert Williams injury history makers trading him for any value virtually impossible.
In 6 previous seasons Williams has averaged 32 games per season. No current NBA player, including Zion Williamson, has a worse record for availability
Williams promptly got injured to start last season in Portland, and then totaled 6 games. He’s already been injured this season, and has played less than 1/2 the games.
And, he’s got 2 more years on his contract at $13M/yr.