NBA Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors Shouldn't Make Any Deadline Deals

The Golden State Warriors are one of the many teams considering trade options before the March 15 deadline, but their best bet is to work with what they've got and keep pushing forward. 

Currently, the Warriors are four games out of eighth place in the Western Conference. There's plenty of time to make up ground and fight their way into the postseason. Making a trade right now would be rushing things, which would devastate the team chemistry. It's not needed, unless somehow the Warriors were able to land Dwight Howard. Even still, that's a risky move because there would be no guarantee he signs a long-term deal with Golden State. 

According to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com, Golden State general manager Larry Riley said the Warriors are open to making a deal before the deadline as long as it's the right one. 

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We're working day and night and we're hopeful. But what will not happen is, we won't do something that sets us back just to do a deal. We want to find the right deal, and if we get one of those we'll do it. I don't know what the odds of it are right now.

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If you remember all the way back to last summer, the Warriors were shopping one of their top players, Monta Ellis. Obviously, nothing ever came of it, but don't be surprised if Ellis' name resurfaces again. 

Ellis leads the team in scoring, averaging 22 points per game. Trading him—or anyone else, for that matter—would not be a bright idea. Sure, Klay Thompson is on the rise and could eventually replace Ellis, but the rookie can't carry the load like Ellis can just yet. 

If Golden State didn't deal Ellis when it had great opportunities last June, the Warriors would be insane to trade him now. The market was better at that time, so trying to make a deal happen before the deadline would be ludicrous.  

He is their best trade asset and a player that most teams are going to want to pursue, especially since the Warriors dangled him around on the trading block last year. NBA teams won't forget that, which means Ellis would be the guy they'd want. 

The Warriors have good talent now, and while they could serve to add more depth, trying to acquire it now isn't the right move. Golden State is better off focusing on getting better with the lineup it already has and improving the roster in the offseason. 

Golden State has a chance at reaching the playoffs. It won't be easy, but it is possible. However, dealing players away is not the right option at this moment, which is why the Warriors need to just keep working with what they've got.