The Warriors and Rockets have been tabbed by scouts and executives as the two teams most likely to make a significant in-season trade, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Insider link). After big deals across the league dried up assets for most teams, not many have the combination of young players, draft picks and movable veterans that Golden State and Houston do.
Golden State has been at the center of several high-level trade rumors in the past few months, including for now-Sixers wing Paul George and Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. Brandin Podziemski, 2023’s No. 19 overall pick, was deemed untouchable specifically in talks for Markkanen, which led to the Warriors and Jazz being unable to reach an agreement on any trade. Podziemski spoke openly about the process to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“It was hard for me to process it mentally,” Podziemski said in an interview for the Hoop Collective podcast. “Everybody is hyping you up but at the same time tearing you down, like ‘Why didn’t we trade him? We should’ve traded him for X, Y, Z.’”
According to Windhorst, league executives are well aware that chairman Joe Lacob is a big fan of Podziemski’s and know that the price to acquire the Santa Clara product would be steep.
“You feel the respect and love from [GM] Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob and our front office and how much they value me after seeing just one year of what I could do,” Podziemski said. “And it’s not like I was being mentioned for another role player, these were All-Stars being talked about. … To see the Clippers and the Jazz to want me in return, it showed Golden State’s value for me to teams around the league.”
It’s unclear what kind of star players, if any, will be on the trade block this winter. As we wrote earlier Saturday, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson aren’t available right now, and likely wouldn’t be as part of any mid-season move in any case. It’s early in the season, so teams are all still trying to sort out what their postseason chances are and how their talent is meshing. The Warriors at 10-2 might not feel inclined to make a move anyways.
Still, De’Anthony Melton ($12.8MM), Gary Payton II ($9.1MM) and Kevon Looney ($8.0MM) present three large expiring deals that could theoretically be used in trades. The Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga weren’t able to agree to an extension before the season, so he could be an outgoing piece in any hypothetical trade. Golden State owns nearly all of its future first-round draft capital, giving the team plenty of ammo for a move.
As for the Rockets, the impressive young duo of Tari Eason and Amen Thompson has been made off limits in any trade talks, according to Windhorst. The Rockets at 9-4 are also not in any sort of rush to make a deal, per Windhorst, and Eason and Thompson have helped the team rank third in defensive efficiency in the early part of the season.
In theory, as noted by ESPN, the Rockets have strong assets that wouldn’t require moving a young piece. Steven Adams is on an expiring $12.6MM deal and Houston retained Jeff Green ($8.0MM), Jock Landale ($8.0MM), Jae’Sean Tate ($7.6MM) and Aaron Holiday ($4.7MM) this offseason despite their lack of playing time. Houston has several draft picks at their disposal from Phoenix that could be enticing. Reports this offseason suggested they may be interested in trading those picks back to the Suns for Kevin Durant. While Durant is almost certainly off the table, perhaps some of those assets could be used elsewhere.
Again, most of the biggest names across the league seem unlikely to change teams in the coming months. Some, like Markkanen, agreed to long-term contracts or were recently on the move, taking them off the shortlist. Others, like Durant, are playing at a high level for contenders. That leaves a small group of players who would be worth sacrificing significant assets for.
It’s worth noting that reporting in October indicated the Rockets were signaling they were unlikely to make a major in-season move. Still, one name that should be monitored for both Golden State and Houston is Heat forward Jimmy Butler. He didn’t sign an extension with the Heat this summer and is planning on declining his player option this coming offseason to test the waters.
Both the Warriors and Rockets have been mentioned as potential suitors for the star swingman. Regardless, it would be pretty surprising to see the Heat move Butler. Even facing the risk of him departing in free agency, Miami selling a star player for young assets runs counter to the organization’s modus operandi.
Rockets certainly have enough players to get a deal done.
Jabari Smith Jr, Cam Whitmore, and some draft picks could easily land a star for the rockets
I wonder if the Rockets could pry LaMelo ball away from the Hornets
Reed Sheppard
Cam Whitmore
Tari Eason
Some 1sts and 1st round pick swaps.
How about this?
Warriors get Ayton and Eason
Blazers get Wiggins and Kuminga
Rockets get Shaedon Sharpe
Why Rockets do it?
Rockets are unlikely to pay both Smith and Eason for $35 millions each per year next summer?
Sharpe is just 21 years old
Warriors would be willing to attach draft picks to get it done
Warriors have zero interest in Ayton. They play low-usage, high BBIQ, unselfish, high-effort centers in their offense.
Agree that they need a C upgrade to be a contender but a more logical target is Poeltl or Clingan.
Looney, GP2, Kuminga, and a lightly-protected future 1st for Poeltl, Shead and Mogbo.
Or
Looney and the reverse-protected ‘26 pick 1-20, plus the ‘28 unprotected to Portland for Clingan
Jacob, we don’t disagree on most issues here, but…
Clingan’s too good, Portland won’t trade him. Ayton’s available for cheap partly because of Clingan.
Does he have warts? YES! I view him much as we did Andrew Wiggins 4 years ago at 26 yrs old: a disappointing under-achiever, but available for a cheap price and filling a glaring need. And, we felt a change of scenery would restore his career.
Ayton spent 5 years in PHO and was an 18pt/12reb guy in that system. 12 months ago, before his 1st game in POR, he was untouchable. If he plays like he did in PHO, we win at least 1 more playoff series.
The Warriors do not have to disturb their chemistry at this time…..if they can avoid any significant injuries, they should be able to go pretty far in the West….they’ve solid 13 deep
Sport writers keep pretending the warriors are going all in for a super star but there is no reason to do it because they are doing well right now. If a big man comes available somewhere that they could get with out unloading the future a trade will happen. I don’t see where Jimmy Butler would be a big impact on the team because he is too much like Wiggins.
I would say its far more likely they deal for a role player thats a bit of an upgrade, especially if someone on an expiring ends up injured for RoS. With someone like Butler theres just no way. It would take 5 or 6 contracts to match his salary, he isnt playing well right now, and there is no way to make the money work without Wiggins, so you would be trading too much depth and a group of players that collectively out perform him by a lot for an aging JB that might just be done as a top player and has 55M next season if he plays too poorly to opt out. Stay the F away from that one.
I could see them targeting a 10M player with great fit with GSW though.
Chapman said:
> I would say it’s far more likely they deal for a role
> player thats a bit of an upgrade… I could see them
> targeting a 10M player with great fit with GSW
> though.
If you look at the public statements by Lakob and MDJ, GSW is still pursuing a big fish.
We know, because Lakob and MJD have confirmed it publicly, that they tried to acquire LeBron 8 months ago. Then after acquiring their current roster in early summer, they tried for George and Markkanen. Then, we read in the Slater article that they had competed for, and, lost out on KAT.
Finally, we heard Lacob say to Kawakami in his podcast that they would not stop trying even during the season to land (his words) a big fish. Now, we’ve heard Windhorst claim something to the effect that all teams around the league believe GSW and Houston want to make a big deal.
That’s a lot of smoke.
Dude you have to couch those statements so much. Of course they want to trade for Book or Giannis or a healthy Kawhi.
Do you really think a true star will be available before the offseason?
If a player like Butler, who would be a nice player in a vacuum, is available does the team improve trading 5 for 1 mid season including several top 7 rotation player?
Markkanen was almost a perfect fit and had the benefit of an 18M salary, but I doubt any semi star players making less than 20M where the Ws can match easier is on the block.
The team has been pretty cautious about throwing it all in if the scenario isnt perfect so far and I doubt that changes now.
If an ideal player on a great contract did come available many other teams (some with many more assets) would also be in on it.
Like the Ws need a star with leverage to say trade me to the Ws… I doubt it happens.
Someone like DFS from the nets though could be had for just one contract and a less valuable couple seconds or something.
You need two to tango and smoke doesnt matter if no real “big fishes” are on the market…
Ari, didnt all of managements trade talk and the efforts to trade that you refer to take place BEFORE this 10-2 start? In other words,NOW after 10-2 start I don’t believe they’re still pursuing a big trade. Depth yes but stars, I doubt it.
Its just very unlikely a star they think fits comes available. I dont think theres much if any interest in trading Wiggins the way hes playing along with a bunch more depth for Lavine or BI.
Stars get traded in the offseason unless theyre named Harden…
Brandon Ingram?
Never ever BI
Claude Raymond, those are indeed the big questions.
I’m responding to the media speculation and Lakob’s statements, but your position may be closer to the truth and, after all, if it ain’t broke…
Still, I’ll go on record (so scold me when I’m wrong):
1. They’re still trying to make a significant move
2. Nobody in org believes this roster and the 13-man rotation can win in the playoffs.
3. Current assets were acquired to enable a trade, and 3 guys will be gone afterwards.
4. Wild-*ss prediction: They’ll acquire an over-average (not superstar) starting center; using primarily expiring contracts and FRP’s, probably in a multi-team transaction. Think Jakob Poetl, DeAndre Ayton, Myles Turner, or Vucevic.
Very true but we saw how the Warriors almost imploded and lost the game last night. With Curry off the floor it’s just not the same.
They need another guy, another leader, and we know it’s not Draymond Green. He’ll lose his cool at the wrong time and it’s happened way too many times. They need another guy. Another Him.
it was more of the Refs trying to keep the score close. There are some cheap leaders they can get. Brook Lopez could be brought in for cheap if Bucks continue to lose. I still think Moody and a pick for Kessler would be a good move for both teams since Utah needs scorers.
Yeah nothing about the way that game ended reflects true performance. I think they would like a good second option, but making the money and contracts work in season is nearly impossible without completely gutting your roster mid season.
If you do a 5 for 1 type trade you also need to worry about taking back like 8M less because your going to be at 10 roster spots then and need to sign 4 more with the team so close to the hard cap they cant sign 1 vet min right now. It works in the offseason when teams have 21 roster spots but 50M players moving in season is pretty tough.
Like I think they would like LeBron if he asked out, but matching him is Wiggins/Loon/GPII/Melton and I think one more small salary so I just dont see it happening.
Davey saying stupid s**t again like its baseball and you can just 1 for 1 Wiggins and a pick for Butler SMH!!!!
No kidding it’s not the same. Take the best player from every team off their team and it’s not the same.
Yeah no kidding it’s not the same Reno.
That’s what I wrote.
“It’s not the same when Curry is out.”
Who do you think the Warriors should try to go after to provide that other guy so when Curry is out and no kidding is not the same and they could lead the team to victory? Any thoughts on that?
Not really, that game was never in danger last night. That’s why they never had to bring Curry back in.
xdrta, I don’t know.., it went from a 21-point lead to a five point game in just a few minutes. That was danger to me. I’m glad you were confident that the team would pull it out.
Gary that happens when the NBA has a agenda
If they can do Butler for Wiggins+a pick, that’s an improvement. Miami won’t do that though.
Literally zero reason to add or subtract from this squad.
According to many predictions around October 17, Warriors are a 43-win team
Now Warriors are on pace to win 68 games. There is no trade since then
What is wrong with predictions? Ever happened?
No matter what, the non-Warriors media is ALWAYS trying to break up the Dubs when they are cooking.
No. Keep everyone. Chemistry is everything and this team has it. They have already weathered injuries to Steph, Slomo and Melton. The depth is the strength, the depth is why they win.
I love that you act like you haven’t been floating Warriors trades for 2 months
Just ignore Babey J. Nothing of sense comes out from him
I love that I was posting trade ideas on the trade website in the trade season, you are an absolute cretin.
Stay clueless forever, scrub. You don’t know ball and my takes > your takes and you know it! Always and forever without a clue = you! Always right, just early = me.
Hopefully we’ve all seen that Jonathan Kuminga is not a 4 just from watching last night. Too many great power forwards out there especially in the West.
He has zero chance of guarding a guy like Jaren Jackson jr. He gives up way too much in skill, size, weight, length.
In spite of the Great start, the Warriors need one more dude. Green gets it done on defense but how about a guy for the other end too?
That “one more dude” is literally Quentin Post. We already have him! Check his box scores in GLeague!
Gary also you are massively underrating Jaren Jackson Jr, who is a borderline superstar and one of the best defenders in the league. We still cooked with the size difference between Kuminga and JJJ. Not everyone has a 6’11” PF, Kuminga is still a 3-4 in this league.
Exactly right, nobody looks good guarding Jackson.
I think we all like what we’ve seen from Post so far. I think he has a knowledge of the game and the man can shoot the rock. That’s a great foundation.
4 for 21 from 3 with below avg defense through 3 game in the G. He is not ready yet…
He could be a top tier 4 for the Warriors with development, but he needs the 3 ball to keep coming along, and despite his athletic gifts he is still learning and a major work in progress on defense.
To play 4 for the Ws without destroying Dray you need a 4 thats going to guard the center since Green is far better playing free safety than the big. He would be best with some improvement as a 3 with Post developing into a stretch 5 since he is big and bouncy enough to be a decent rim protector, but well see if Post can develop his game to that point in the Cruz. His first couple G games have been ok but he looks like defense is still a big work in progress, and his 3s havent been going down when that was supposed to be his strongest skill.
Gary, I’m respectfully disagreeing with your characterization of the modern PF, which, IMO, continues to evolve away from what Jaren Jackson Jr was doing last night, and more toward the hybrid 3/4 that JK is playing. (Jackson is, positionally, a C, but Memphis is trying to play 2 C’s. We’ll see how that goes.) I believe that JK can defend those players better most PF’s in the game.
If a PF can’t defend the 3 point line and make 3’s, he’s not long for the modern NBA. In other words, arrow down for Zion Williamson and Julius Randle, arrow up for Jason Tatum and Jalen Williams (OKC). Do Tatum and Williams get bullied by Zion, Randle, and Jaren Jackson Jr (like JK was last night)? ABSOLUTELY THEY DO. But, in the modern game, Tatum and Williams do more to help their teams than those old-school PF’s.
Of course, there are a few PF’s that defy these generalizations — Giannis and Banchero come to mind — by being so good at some aspects of the game that they can get away with not shooting the 3 well.
OKC playing a 6’5″ guy at C for the foreseeable future and showing no inclination to use their vast resources for a short term C. Its a skill game now and the only 7’+ guys that will play are the highly skilled ones.
Value podz way high, back up PG @ best.
Backup PG thats good at everything and can start if you need him too. Its not that thats a star player, its that in the current NBA contract landscape that guy for 2 more years at 11M for this year and those two is a huge value. Teams are afraid of the second apron and getting rotation players for 3M is a huge advantage.
If the Warriors are going to be successful this year it’s going to be because of defense. If Buddy Hield cools off and Podski doesn’t find his shot and Curry misses some time, this team is in a lot of trouble. Big time.
So it’s the defense that must be pushed forward and emphasized and it’s where Golden State must hang its hat this year. No two ways about it.
There’s no big guy coming to save the season because there’s none available right now. It’s defense. That’s how the Warriors are going to have to do it.
Trading away the depth would cause more problems than it would solve.
I want to see Steve run these 2 units together, constantly flipping them around:
Looney-Slomo-Wiggins-Moody-Steph doing 2015 stuff
TJD-Dray-GP2-Buddy-Podz as the high energy unit
Any team that is gelling could be disrupted by this overall speed change alone.
I heard a good podcast where they were talking about how in this new environment where everyone is just bombing from 3 its more important to have POA defenders who can limit the 3 even if you have below avg rim protection since so much fewer shots are in the restricted now. Most teams with good defenses this season have great perimeter defenders and mediocre or non existent rim protectors. GSW are holding teams to league worst 3pt shooting so far this season.
I think Hield never cools off this is what he is in this system, and even he is showing far better defensively than he has in the past so hes a lot harder to play off the court with a down shooting night.
Warriors most likely NBA team to make a trade?!
Here’s a name: DEANDRE AYTON, C, Portland, 7’, 7’6” wingspan, 250 lb, 26 yrs, #1 pick in 2018 draft.
IMO, with Warriors he projects to be what he was in 2023 with PHO:
– 30mpg, 18pts, and 11rpg.
– Over-average rim protector, but not elite.
– Very good lateral movement for 7’.
– Projected as a stretch-big when drafted in 2018, but Monte Williams in PHO and Chauncey Billups in POR want him to stay inside. At only 26 and never playing for the right team, there’s untapped potential in Ayton.
Not available, you say? Consider that rookie C Donovan Clingan, picked #7 in the draft, has looked *really* good this season, and needs to play more. Plus, Portland has 2 other serviceable-to-good C’s in RWilliams and Reath. Suddenly Ayton’s days in Portland appear numbered.
The bad: Ayton has struggled in Portland, at least relative to the expectations set by his first 4 years in Phoenix. His character rep took a hit in 2023 because he didn’t get along with Suns HC Monte Williams, but we now know Williams had conflicts with several Suns players.
Ayton is making $34M — challenging, but not impossible for GSW to match. Rebuilding Portland wants draft picks and expiring contracts. They do not want rotation players.
What’s Ayton’s trade value? Substantially less than Markkanen and Paul George. Plus, Portland does not want the remaining 2 years on Ayton’s contract, reducing their leverage.
A package of 2 lightly protected FRP’s plus the expiring contracts of Melton, Looney, GP2, & Waters might do it. There will be competition.
Why would you want to trade half the team for ayton? I’d rather trade one player like Kuminga since he clearly doesn’t fit for Timelord. Waay better fit at the 5 for the warriors if they were to go for extra size
Warriors need to trade Wiggins, otherwise
Blazers get Kuminga, Looney, Melton and a 4th player
tball , every one of those 4 players has an expiring contract and is unlikely to be on the team next year. That’s both why they are less valuable to us and more valuable to Portland.
They can offer Melton like 16M starting with early bird and up to 4 years I think, which with his injury history would probably get it done.
GPII is probably a vet min guy unless he has a wild postseason where he plays a lot more than he is currently on a title run. If he still has anything left they can get him cheap.
Loon probably takes a discount and is perfectly serviceable as your second string C for like 4M. I think they keep him for clubhouse reasons alone.
Waters is someone they targeted thats a decent size 3 and D wing they might be able to get on a cheap multi year I think he resigns as well.
Oh and any 2 of them out produce Ayton.
Kuminga is only about half time lords salary you still need like 6-7M to match. Kuminga is also far far more valuable since he is a 21 year old wing thats already flashed star upside and Timelord is never healthy. Sure hes a great player 20% of the time when he plays…
Like Kuminga GPII for TL and 3 firsts maybe.
Ayton has had a bad tude everywhere
Por would insta accept if you gave that package w 2 firsts
O/U 4 games before Dray ripped into DA like a med rare steak
Rain delay,
Ayton has been on 2 team, Phoenix and, for 14 months, Portland. I haven’s seen any mention of Ayton being less than a good citizen there. Can you?
Yeah he has already been complaining about role last season when he first came over and wasnt very good and then got benched. He was bad last season do you really trust a 10 gm SSS where he has been just ok? Your also talking about trading the 2 best point of attack defenders and the best defensive C for a mediocre player thats over paid and might fit.
Like most of the league thinks POR needs to attach picks to move him. They want to play the younger players. Guys like Ayton/Grant are super mega ultra available for any deal involving expiring. If people wanted Ayton at that price he would already be elsewhere…
Ariistole – just my opinion but I think Ayton is about as far away from warrior culture as a player gets . He’s a me me guy if there ever was one , just my opinion there’s plenty of past instances but i don’t care to dig them up
I’d rather target Capela for Pennie’s on t he dollar
I would pass on Ayton unless he comes way cheaper than that. Since Williams is so injury prone he could come cheap in dangling Moody and a 1st round pick for him.
Moody isn’t eligible to trade this year I think arc , if I remember correct he becomes eligible 7-1-25
But I agree that’s too much above for DA
For what it’s worth, Moody is trade-eligible this season, but his incoming and outgoing salary figures would be different due to his extension, which could complicate salary-matching. link to hoopsrumors.com
Agh so he’s poisoned pilled ? Makes it v difficult … thanks for the catch Luke
Yeah with the extensions like this its different and he is TE just poison pilled with 5.3M outgoing and 11.5M incoming. Since almost every team is at or near a hard cap the only way to make it work is shuffle extra salary to CHO/BRK. They are the only teams able to facilitate trades for over the cap teams at the moment that dont line up exactly.
arc89 ,
We’d be giving away 4 players who are UFA’s at the end of the season. Moody on his own is worth more than that because his contract extends 3 more years. The two protected FRP’s are likely to be in the 20-30 range.
Do you not believe Ayton’s consistent 18pts/10rebs from Phoenix would be replicated here? If not, why?
IMO, Williams is too injury prone to acquire.
If you trade protected picks than you cant trade them in another better trade. The only way it works are if the protections are in one year only.
Otherwise the pick could convey in any of the years and it limits you to trading no picks in future deals until they convey.
They could put together a package for a star next summer that would rival some of the better ones around since like OKC has a lot of picks but none that will be that good since theyre own will be end of the first for a while and most of what they got in trade are protected in some way. If you deal a couple protected 1sts than they can trade like 1 1st and a couple young players. I for one am not doing my all in trade for Deandre F***ing Ayton…
3 teams can help Blazers to take on Moody
Pistons
Jazz
Raptors
Again that doesnt work salary matching. Moody is 5M outgoing and poison pilled so he counts as 11M for the Blazers who dont have room to take the extra salary.
Please people learn the salary matching rules this isnt baseball where you can trade 4 make nothing prospects for a 50M star.
He is a bad defender for his physical skills, and still never finishes in the restricted its all hooks and middies. Also another guy that has a big salary where your sending 2-4 players just to match.
He has not proven he is actually a stretch big yet at all.
He is super available.
Yes he is cheaper but I like Loon and Melton individually over him in a 16 game scenario.
By November 14, 2024
The Golden State Warriors bench is currently averaging 58 points per game this season
link to x.com
DO NOT trade Moody…..and forget Ayton and Butler
The warriors seem desperate for attention at all times. Gag me with a spoon
Its more like the media knows they generate clicks so they have to invent reasons to speculate for traffic.
1. Coby White for Jock Landale, Tari Eason and a protected first round pick.
White Green Brooks Smith Sengun
FVV then 2 of Reed, Thompson and Whitmore with Green and Adams then back up unit.
White has great size, can play on ball or off ball, is a efficient shooter, and plays a decent level of defence. He’d fit in well with Sengun and Green.
FVV can they leave at the end of the season along with Adams, Green and Tates expiring congrats they could go big fish hunting in FA.
Long term wise Reed Thompson and Whitmore would be a great trio to run together. Reed a sort of combo guard that can happily share touches, Thompson an elite defender to plays offensively kinda as a point forward then Whitmore just a walking bucket on the wing.
Chicago
Giddey LaVine Eason PWill Vuce
Ball Ayo Phillips Buzelis Landale
I’m just not a believer in White Giddey and LaVine together, and I think if you paired Giddey and Eason either side of LaVine it would make up for his poor defence. I also like Eason, Pat Will and Buzelis as your forward trio who all offer you something a little different but are all good defenders. On top of that you also get a first for the future.
This is a terrible deal for the bulls lmao. Selling low on white is absurd.
Just start Looney at C, promote and play Post and sign a C from the age of 21 to 23
Easy. Adjust Kerr. Kerr only knows how to coach small ball. Yup they run down court not dribbling and playing no defense, oh a 3 though the post is open. how exciting this new NBA is
Steve Kerr would be a all NBA defensive team if he played in this era
Then keep a eye out for a diamond in the rough ruff young PG 21-23 if Beekman isn’t it
Immediate chances of a GSW trade just plummeted, sounds likely that Melton is done for at least 4 months, maybe the season.
In Kerr’s presser yesterday he mentioned that Melton was independently looking for a SECOND OPINION on his ACL procedure. That’s typically code for the team’s preferred doc recommended a procedure with a long recovery period, so the player is searching for an alternative.
Melton has already lost 7 days from the originally scheduled surgery last Wednesday, which tells me the originally planned procedure was badly received. You don’t delay this long unless you’re meeting with several specialists, and each is giving you bad news.