The Warriors may be active on the trade market before the deadline, but they’re not expected to pursue a major deal until the offseason, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Two Western Conference executives who talked to Youngmisuk believe Golden State will save its most valuable trade pieces for the summer in hopes of a making significant move.
For now, a more likely target is Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who would provide a second reliable scorer to team with Stephen Curry. Vucevic is making $20MM, and the Warriors hope they might be able to land him in exchange for expiring deals. Both rival executives expect the team to continue exploring its options until closer to February 6, rather than making a deal right away.
Youngmusik points out that Golden State’s top trade pieces are Andrew Wiggins‘ $26MM contract, along with young players Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski. More likely to be moved now are the expiring contracts of Gary Payton II ($9.13MM) and Kevon Looney ($8MM), along with draft assets (the Warriors have three tradable first-round picks and two second-rounders.
Youngmisuk reveals that CEO Joe Lacob met with general manager Mike Dunleavy to discuss the team’s options after a January 7 loss to Miami. One rival executive described the team as “frustrated” as it has fallen down the standings after a 12-3 start.
The executives also told Youngmisuk that if the Warriors aren’t in a better position by the trade deadline, they might consider some cost-cutting deals to reduce the size of their tax bill. Youngmisuk adds that Golden State typically isn’t active around the deadline, with only two significant trades during the Curry era.
Curry, who has been playing through thumb and knee pain this season, said he can accept a quiet deadline as long as he knows the front office is making an effort to improve the roster.
“[We’re] trying to be a realistic threat in a playoffs series,” he said. “If Mike calls and says, ‘Hey, this is an opportunity to do X, Y, Z,’ I give my opinion. My hope is that [if there’s no action at the deadline], it’s not because of a lack of effort. If we don’t have a chance to get better, my whole thing is I want to win, and whatever that means, all efforts are pointed towards that, then I can kind of live with whatever happens.”
The Warriors tried to get involved in major deals last summer, making offers for Lauri Markkanen before he re-signed with Utah and Paul George before he opted out of his contract with the Clippers. In both cases, it would have meant parting with Kuminga and maybe Podziemski, which Golden State wasn’t ready to do.
They were one of the first teams to make a significant in-season deal, picking up Dennis Schröder from Brooklyn in mid-December, but the veteran guard has struggled badly with his shot and hasn’t been able to stop the team’s long decline. It’s possible that Schröder could be moved again before the deadline.
Curry, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr have all made recent public statements cautioning against the dangers of a panic move. They seem content to wait until summer for a roster overhaul if necessary, and in the meantime they’re confident about their postseason chances no matter who they have to face.
“Hundred percent feel like we can beat anybody in a playoff series because we’ve done it,” Curry said. “We have the know-how, and we just want to be able to answer that question with how we’re playing and not imagine. … We’ve been there. We know how to do it. Just feel like we can do it again.”
I know a couple of Warriors fans who I read and respect their analysis (Arc and Gary) won’t agree with me on this but unless GSW offers some decent worth for Vu, I don’t see them trading with Bulls. Vu still has $21M next year and playing like he’s 25 again. He’s worth more than a couple fillers and 2nd round pick. If I’m AKME I would hold onto him until a team comes and offers a 1st round pick. I’m not saying give us an unprotected pick because this isn’t 2K with force trades, but 20-30 range is still something valuable. Make the Warriors call their bluff and try to help Steph win at this deep into his career. We’re not in a position to be just handing out assets and helping out teams without getting anything meaningful in return.
I agree with you I highly doubt the warriors are picking up anyone at the trade deadline unless something is gift wrapped into their arms. The Bulls will get a protected 1st round pick for Vu since there is a lack of big men available. Because of that i don’t see the warriors trading a 1st round pick because they know its needed for the future.
I don’t think any team will give up a lottery protected 1st, I think it would be more in the 20-30 range. But given our front office and how it scouts and evaluates players. I think we are doomed either way lmao
If GSW wants Vucevic, it’s competing with other teams.
CHI will wait until Feb 6 when bids are highest. They will shop the bids across interested teams. You can’t force CHI to move now. It doesn’t work that way.
Even if GSW’s offer is currently best, it still has to wait.
Curry isn’t getting any younger. You should be making major moves now.
It’s hard to acclimate a top player onto your team in the middle of the season. They should trade a protected first now for Vuc now since he is under contract for next season, and then try to trade for a star this offseason when they have more draft capital available.
what big move makes them a contender/ From what i see none will make them one of the top 8 teams in the NBA.
That’s the problem for the Warriors…
No moved puts them in the top 8…
As no one is taking Draymonds empty calories…
Scarlett what if the Warriors picked up a Nick Richards type dude? Would that help them creep up in the standings to maybe six or seven?
the expiring contracts ARE a viable asset for chi going forward. they give bulls flexibility for next season. its not just taking scrubs.
And who are you going to replace Vu’s production in FA? Rarely do big man of his caliber and production hit FA and rarely does this team make FA splashes. I think the expiring contracts are a nice start but they want and need to ask for picks in order to level out the ineptitude which will be completed by end of August.
Raz – what you’re missing is that the basketball world knows that Vucevic isn’t in the Bulls future. The Bulls are publicly committed to a rebuild. Vucevic is 35 years old, he doesn’t fit. CHI wants to be bad now, good in the future.
The Bulls have been trying to dump Vucevic & Lavine for 9 months. Vucevic’s improved play at 35 doesn’t reduce the likelihood of him being traded by Feb 6.
Oh I know I’m not saying we’ll be competing. I just think they might trade him pennies on the dollar which I’m worried about. I mean look at how they horribly miscalculated AC’s value last June. If he was on this team right now, he would have fetched us a better deal than just Josh Giddey. That’s my only worry about trading Vu so quickly, they will just take any decent offer rather than have building up a bidding war for his services. As for Lavine, I personally think he’ll get traded in the summer after the new CBA screws Tax apron teams during FA. That would be my guess and hopefully the smart thing to do.
Maybe the Bulls could take Looney, Payton and a protected 1st round pick for Vucevic.
This sounds about right
I would be okay with this offer.
In my opinion, there’s no way the Warriors give up a first round pick for Vucevic. Ain’t happening.
I think Chicago may be holding out for that and it’s the reason this article popped up.
If the requirement is a first round pick for this guy, the Dubs wait till the summer to make a deal. Simple as that.
A protected first is worth it. Curry has never played with a stretch 5 in his entire career. This would really open up the floor for him. Vuc even at his age isn’t any slower than a Bogut or Looney that he has been used to playing with.
Bulls are far from competing. They need a full rebuild
One could say the same about the Warriors.
Yeah yeah, broken record and all that. Are the warriors sneakily pushing Steph, Green out like Klay?
Steph is saying they probably shouldn’t make a move. Are you saying Curry is trying to push Curry out? Kinda bizarre. How did they push Klay out? He was struggling to regain his form. Sometimes a change is good.
I think Curry is still playing at a very high level. You might see his numbers dip a little bit because as others pointed out, he’s double and triple teamed more often than in the past couple years.
I think he’ll be just as good next year as he is this year, especially if he doesn’t play big minutes or every single game the rest of the season.
But on the other hand, I wouldn’t mind pushing Green out. I’m tired of his act.
Perhaps if the Warriors don’t swing a trade to improve at the deadline, he’ll be one of the veteran guys moved out before Feb 6 for future assets?
Good. Makes sense. With JK continuing to improve, Wiggins seems expendable. He could probably get a late first. It is a deep draft. With a little tanking, they could land a guy like Queen, Malauch and a shooting guard. With Shroder, Looney, GPII and Waters coming off the books, they could land some veteran help. Reuniting with Melton is a possibility. He worked well with Curry.
Wiggins defense isn’t expendable
With JK improving, he going to command a bigger contract. It is hard to have him coming off the bench. They haven’t been that productive on the floor together. Curry needs a 2nd shooter.
I just did used NBA trade machine:
Pods
Looney
GPII
Waters
2026 2nd round from Hawks
Vucevic
It’s not a bad offer. Probably would waive GPII and keep Pods and Waters around. It would definitely give us momentum is moving up in the standings for a better pick as well.
Interesting. My head wants to say no, but I’d have to think about it. Wonder what the other guys think?
The tipping point is that you have Vucevic signed for next season also, which is a good thing because it’s ONLY next season and not the next two after this lol.
Trade works (on a machine) as your + 635$ k on it
But you wouldn’t be able to add back prorated mins to become roster rules adjacent and slip apron 1 which is your cap this year . You’d need to shed about 1.5 M more to be eligible to make this trade with the proper incoming mins
I don’t want Vucevic.
I want Zion or Zach LaVine (damaged goods)
that package + Anderson in the deal.
Boring.
Steph can say what he likes to the media. This is eating him up inside and he would be super frustrated with this organisation.
They need to do something solid soon otherwise I am sure the patience will run out.
Just players to make them better, doesn’t have to make the team win again.