Warriors' Blueprint for 2023 NBA Trade Deadline
It isn't certain how the Golden State Warriors plan to operate at the upcoming NBA trade deadline.
What seems clear, though, is the Dubs need to do something if they hope to defend their title.
Their full-strength starting five has been elite, but no other five-man unit has come close to that level. While Golden State has had to navigate around injury troubles—just like virtually every other team—this squad has still passed the season's midpoint with a .500 record and a negative net rating (minus-0.4 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com).
Right now, the Warriors are contenders by track record and reputation only. Following this deadline blueprint could help them become realistic championship hopefuls.
1. Shop Young Players Not Named Jonathan Kuminga
1 of 3
Finding a fix to Golden State's present problems will inevitably require sacrificing some part of the franchise's future.
The challenge for the front office is making a later-for-now type of swap without giving up explosive forward Jonathan Kuminga. That won't be easy, since virtually every inquiring rebuilder will surely ask about the swingman, but anything short of a blockbuster trade wouldn't be worth it for the Warriors.
"Kuminga could develop into a certified building block for the Warriors, the player most responsible for extending or reinventing their window beyond the Prime Steph Era," B/R's Dan Favale wrote.
James Wiseman and Moses Moody should be aggressively shopped. They aren't helping the team now, and their inability to lock down regular rotation roles by this point makes you wonder if they ever will.
If rebuilders have taken a liking to rookies Patrick Baldwin Jr. or Ryan Rollins, they're worth discussing, too.
2. Find a Reliable Backup Center
2 of 3
The Warriors essentially have two centers in the rotation at this point, and neither stands taller than 6'9".
There's nothing inherently wrong with playing undersized bigs; Golden State has raised a near-handful of championship banners while leaning on those players a ton. The worry is the wear-and-tear that Kevon Looney (6'9", 222 lbs) and Draymond Green (6'6", 230 lbs) endure from bruising bigs just might wear them out.
"I'm concerned about Draymond and Loon right now," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said recently. "They've been playing such heavy minutes with the number of bigs who have been out over the last few weeks."
Unfortunately for Kerr, a clean bill of health wouldn't really address this issue. JaMychal Green has been trapped in a two-year shooting funk. Wiseman has shown nothing to suggest he's ready for major regular-season matchups, let alone the bright lights of the postseason.
Golden State has to find more reliable options for the frontcourt. The challenge will be not overpaying to do it.
The idea of adding a Jakob Poeltl or Myles Turner to the mix is fun, but with as many minutes as Looney and Draymond Green will play, this role might not be more than 15-ish minutes come playoff time.
3. Sniff Around for Shot-Making Wings
3 of 3
The Warriors rely on the shot-creation of Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole to manufacture much of their offense. When that doesn't work, Kerr's motion offense is supposed to do the trick.
When Golden State operates with machine-like precision, this group plays basketball's version of the beautiful game. However, playoff basketball can be anything but beautiful.
If playoff opponents stay on top of their rotations and communication, then it'll take more than ball and player movement to beat them. That's where adding another live-dribble threat could be big.
Now, there's only so much room for individual creativity in this system—for the non-Curry-or-Poole portion of the roster at least—so the Dubs don't need to break the bank for a high-volume scorer. That's just as well, since Golden State's trade budget wouldn't stretch that far anyway.
Still, an instant-offense sub who won't get smoked on defense would be ideal. A Terrence Ross-type could fit the bill.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
