NBA Trade Deadline: List of Potential Warriors' Deadline-Week Trades

The NBA trade deadline, March 15, is just eight days away, and the Golden State Warriors' name has come up in many potential deals.

With good reason.

The Warriors are five games under .500 and more importantly are behind five other teams fighting for the last playoff spot.

That, and now in Year 3 of the Stephen Curry/Monta Ellis experiment, with the Warriors' inability to build the right team around them to make it work, it looks like it's time to make a move.

The Warriors are one of the few teams expected to make any moves in the next couple weeks; here's what we know heading into the trading deadline.

Klay Thompson looks like the real deal and is ready to step in as the starting two guard. That, paired with Curry's injury problems, which are hurting his value, makes Ellis the much more attractive trading asset.

With his value about as high as it's going to get, he seems the most likely to get dealt, although getting equal value for him might not be in the cards.

David Lee, unless it brings Dwight Howard to the Bay Area, doesn't appear likely to be moved and Andris Biedrins is as close to untradable as it gets, and not in the good way.

With that, here are potential deals for the Warriors as the deadline is fast approaching. 

1. Monta Ellis to New Jersey for Brook Lopez

This trade rumor has been shot down recently, but if the Warriors want to gamble that he will be healthy and want to control his rights this summer, then this deal has potential.

However, Lopez’s impending free agency and his more recent injury problems make this deal less likely by the hour.

Upside to this deal: Lopez would give the Warriors a legit center (next season) and his numbers would spike having Lee taking pressure off him in the post.

Downside to this deal: If he wasn’t already, Lopez is officially injury prone. Plus, big men and foot problems don’t make a great gamble. 

2. Stephen Curry to Boston for Rajon Rondo

The Warriors reportedly rejected this potential deal in the past, but management would be wise to revisit this to see if it's still a possibility.

This deal would give the Warriors a premier point guard who would strengthen their team defense. Pairing Rondo with Ellis would give the Warriors one of the top backcourts in the league, making a better dynamic than with Curry and Ellis.

Sure, it would be a big step down from Curry in shooting ability, but the Warriors have enough scorers that it's not a big loss.

With a good attitude, Rondo could be a great leader who most importantly has winning experience,  something the Warriors sorely need.

Upside to this deal: The Warriors get an All-Star point guard who brings championship experience to Golden State.

Downside to this deal: If Rondo becomes even more volatile being dealt to Golden State and becomes a cancer in the locker room and on the court.

3. Monta Ellis to Utah for Al Jefferson

This deal definitely makes sense for the Warriors.

Actually, they are almost trading for the center version of Monta Ellis.

Both Jefferson and Ellis are from Mississippi. Both put up monster numbers, both have been good enough to be called an All-Star, but haven’t.

Both have been to the playoffs exactly one time, both don’t get the respect they deserve around the league and they have both have played on perennial losing teams throughout their careers…although the latter two might be correlated.

Why not make this deal? It solves the center problem and Thompson can step right into the starting lineup.

Upside to this deal: Jefferson continues to post similar numbers while providing much-needed size and a presence in the post.

Downside to this deal: Jefferson and David Lee don’t mesh together and he ends up walking after next season.

4. Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Klay Thompson to Orlando for Dwight Howard

While it’s looking more likely that Dwight Howard is staying in Orlando, that still hasn’t stopped the Warriors from reportedly pursuing him. 

This deal or any other potential deal that brings Howard to the Bay Area would essentially gut most of their roster and potential.

It would be a huge gamble since Howard has stated that he does not want to stay in the Bay Area long-term, but it would give them leverage at the end of this season. He will have to turn down potentially $25 million to walk via free agency this summer.

He would give the Warriors a great shot at making the playoffs this season, but is that enough to make a deal happen with his unwillingness to stay long-term?

Upside to this deal: Howard falls in love with the Bay Area and stays long-term giving the Warriors the best center in the league for the next 5+ years.

Downside to this deal: The Warriors end up missing the playoffs anyway and Howard walks this summer.

5. Monta Ellis to Minnesota for Michael Beasley and Nikola Pekovic

A rumored deal that has been since shot down by the Warriors.

If this deal is revisited, it would allow Klay Thompson to start while bringing in Dorell Wright off the bench. Beasley could replace a good chunk of Monta's scoring while Pekovic would give the Warriors a legit center.

Upside to this deal: Beasley thrives in the Warriors system and Pekovic gives the Warriors exactly what he is giving the Timberwolves right now.

Downside to this deal: Beasley doesn't want to play in the Bay Area and it shows. Pekovic misses having Kevin Love alongside him on the court and it shows.

6. Monta Ellis to Washington for JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche

This deal would give the Warriors the defensive presence in the middle that they are looking for. Yes, both McGee and Blatche have, let’s say, maturity issues, but maybe Mark Jackson is the coach to finally get through to both of them.

McGee has the potential to be a great defensive player in the NBA and while Blatche’s contract would be a lot to take on, if both of these guys play up to their potential, it would be a nice haul for Ellis.

Upside to this deal: McGee and Blatche grow up and play up to their potential to help give the Warriors the defensive unit they are looking for.

Downside to this deal: McGee signs for big money with the Warriors next year, but just never grows up and Blatche contract’s becomes dead weight. 

7. Dorell Wright and Kwame Brown to New Orleans for Chrs Kaman

I'm not buying the Monta Ellis-for-Chris Kaman rumor, however, this deal makes some sense.

Wright would give the Hornets at the very least a trading chip for next season while providing some much-needed outside shooting. Wright is expendable with Thompson on board, and Kaman would give the Warriors the center they need.

Acquiring Kaman now would give the Warriors a half of a season to see if he is the answer to their center problems.

The Warriors can use the rest of the year to see if Kaman can make an Ellis/Curry back-court work and save themselves from throwing big money at him this summer and just hoping that he will make it work.

Upside to this deal: Kaman is the piece that completes this team, allowing Curry and Ellis to win together.

Downside to this deal: Kaman isn't that piece and he leaves this summer.

8. Monta Ellis and Kwame Brown to Atlanta for Joe Johnson

In this deal, the “Warriors think they can get Joe Johnson for Monta Ellis.”

Yes, I think that would do it, but with four more years and about $80 million left on Johnson’s contract, it makes little sense.

Even if you called Johnson an upgrade over Ellis, that still shouldn’t be enough to make this deal with that much money owed.

Upside to this deal: Johnson is potentially a better back-court mate with Curry.

Downside to this deal: $80 million extra.

9. Monta Ellis to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor

Not the most exciting deal, but remember, Ellis is only one year away from completely walking away from the Warriors, so it's something.

This is not an equal deal in terms of talent, but it does bring in a defensive center. Okafor's poor offensive game wouldn't be too detrimental on a team that can score as well as the Warriors.

Upside to this deal: Okafor provides the defensive presence the Warriors solely need.

Downside to this deal: Okafor never gets fully healthily and/or he becomes Andris Biedrins 2.0.

10. Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh to Atlanta for Josh Smith and 2012 First-Rounder

Putting Thompson and Smith into the Warriors lineup vs. Ellis and Biedrins seems a lot more appealing, even though Lee and/or Smith would be playing out of position.

Adding a true center with a lineup of Curry, Thompson, Lee and Smith this summer would seem to be the team Mark Jackson is looking for.

Losing Udoh might be necessary to make this deal work, but the Warriors do get a draft pick in the loaded 2012 NBA draft class.

Upside to the deal: Smith changes the defensive culture in the Bay Area and makes the Warriors contenders next season.

Downside to this deal: Smith struggles finding a position and he doesn't gel with this team.

11. Monta Ellis to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut

Just like the Okafor deal, the Warriors get a defensive center whose value couldn't be lower than it is right now.

He would be an ideal pairing for David Lee and if healthy would give the Warriors flexibility in how the spend their free-agent dollars this summer.

This would be quite a gamble, but if he is healthy, Bogut is one of the best shot blockers in the league.

Upside to this deal: Bogut puts his injuries behind him and becomes the defensive presence the Warriors need.

Downside to this deal: Bogut continues to make Curry look durable.