3 Trade Targets for Warriors to Consider Before Rumor Mill Picks Up

The 2023-24 NBA season is young, but the Golden State Warriors already appear in need of reinforcements.

So, yes, they can—and should—start thinking about trades, even if the market feels unlikely to move before at least Dec. 15, when most free agents signed this offseason become trade-eligible.

The Dubs' 5-1 start has become a distant memory, as they carried a six-game losing streak into Monday night. They have an MVP candidate in Stephen Curry and a host of question marks around him. The trade market might offer some solutions, starting with the following three targets.

Alec Burks, Detroit Pistons

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CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 17: Alec Burks #14 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the In-Season Tournament on November 17, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Dubs have scorers and stoppers, but they don't have enough players who contribute on both ends.

Alec Burks could help change that.

The veteran swingman operates similar to a three-and-D wing, only he has enough ball skills to play point guard in a pinch. He's on course to clear 40 percent from three for the fourth consecutive season, and he's making things happen off the dribble, too. His 4.5 free-throw attempts per game are his most in nearly a decade (2015-16).

Burks also appears as one of this season's likeliest trade candidates, as he's a 32-year-old on an expiring contract who's suiting up for a rebuilding Pistons club that's clearly headed nowhere.

Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 17: Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls reacts after a three-point basket in the first half of an NBA In-Season Tournament game against the Orlando Magic at the United Center on November 17, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Like most win-now teams, the Warriors could use a player like Alex Caruso.

The only question is whether they have enough trade chips to win what could be an aggressive bidding war.

If there are big fans of Moses Moody or Jonathan Kuminga in Chicago's front office, though, Golden State might have enough to get a deal done. That maybe sounds like a steep price for a 29-year-old role player, but Caruso is one of those players who can star in his role. His defense is elite (All-Defensive first team last season), and his offensive versatility allows him to check an impressive number of boxes.

He's also been to this sport's apex, as he was a rotation regular for the champion 2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level, which would allow him to hit the ground running in Golden State and potentially snag a spot on both the starting and closing lineups.

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

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TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on November 19, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Watching the Warriors, it feels relatively reasonable to conclude that only a major trade would help them salvage this season. That's triply true if Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson can't get it going.

If Golden State goes for broke this trade season, Pascal Siakam might be an option. He feels like he's right at the top of this team's trade budget, and he'd probably exceed it if he wasn't on an expiring contract.

Cashing out top assets for a partial season rental is risky, but is it any riskier than not giving Curry what he needs to contend for a championship? Siakam has won one already as a high-end support player on the 2018-19 Raptors, as he served as that club's second-leading scorer in the playoffs.

He contributes at both ends, offering both the defensive versatility the Dubs have favored and the ability to finish scoring plays or create them for himself. He also feels less than off-limits for the Raptors, whose choppy start could finally convince them it's time to reset the roster around Scottie Barnes.