Why Warriors would be wise to resist trade deadline move, wait for..

Why Warriors would be wise to resist trade deadline move, wait for summer with clear head, clearer cap sheet

On paper, there’s a halfway plausible story you can tell yourself about the Golden State Warriors still being a fringe NBA title

contender. First, they have Stephen Curry, who still makes you believe in the impossible. Next, they have played a league-high 32

“clutch” games this season, meaning the score was within five points or less inside the final five minutes. They are 15-17 in those

games, including a pair of one-point losses to the Kings and Lakers inside the last week.

If you squint, you can almost see a situation where this team with the entire pedigree—including the 1A superstar—could be one trade

from winning some of these close games and, thus, going on to make a deep run in the postseason.

I’m here to inform you that there isn’t a trade available. Pascal Siakam, who wouldn’t have made much of an impact in any case, was

grabbed by Indiana. The Warriors would have lost Jonathan Kuminga to the Knicks in exchange for OG Anunoby, who has

presumably solidified his reputation as being too excellent to trade in any case.

Murray Dejounte? If Kuminga is not available, as he should be, the Warriors can easily reach two trade-eligible draft picks (2026, if

they remove 1-4 protection on the 2024 pick they owe Portland, and 2028), and Murray would probably cost them both. If we’re being

really honest, Murray is promised more than $100 million over the next four years, but Kuminga, who is six years younger and will

play for at least one more season at rookie salary, is probably already superior.

Though he would probably cost the same two draft picks and/or Kuminga, Jerami Grant would be a bigger boost for the Warriors than

Murray and earn more money in addition. The Warriors, mired in tax hell with a payroll that approaches $400 million after penalties,

will not load the $130 million that Grant is certain to receive over the following four years onto their books in the hopes of making it

out of the Play-In Tournament and losing in the opening or second round.

Would you be willing to go all out and switch Klay Thompson for Zach LaVine? It’s possible for you. The money is working in a

straight line. Right now, LaVine is a superior player than Thompson. The Warriors would have a new, potent scoring threat in him.

Along with a $49 million player option for 2026–2027, he is also owed $90 million over the following two seasons.

The Warriors shouldn’t be attempting to add more money because they must be aware in their hearts that the days of the Curry, Lay,

and Draymond core winning titles are most likely over. It’s time for them to try cutting it. This is an entity that has paid out almost

$700 million in tax money over the last seven years.