3 Trade Targets For The Warriors To Improve Immediately
It might be time for the panic button.
While we’ve clamored over the course of the season that the Warriors just need some time to “figure it out”, it’s becoming more and more obvious that they’re struggling more than anticipated. This is due to a myriad of factors, between Jordan Poole underperforming after signing his extension, a dud shooting year from Otto Porter Jr. replacement JaMychal Green, and the league’s worst free throw differential, amongst several other things.
But those factors pale in comparison to the news which broke today. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Stephen Curry, after hurting his shoulder and exiting the game in the 3rd quarter against the Indiana Pacers last night, would be re-evaluated in two weeks due to a labrum injury:
Thankfully, Curry will not require surgery. But given that the team is statistically one of the worst in the league when he’s off the court, this represents a very important flashpoint for Golden State moving forward: Clearly, they need something fresh if they want to capitalize on this championship window. There are a couple trade options which could fit this Warriors’ team, but those are narrowed down by the assets Golden State has to give up.
Jonathan Kuminga has cemented himself as a positive in the rotation, and should not be traded. Despite Steve Kerr keeping him behind a pair of two-way-players for reasons which don’t entirely add up, neither should Moses Moody, who has put in a lot of quality minutes and could be an important glue guy if he could get some actual chances.
The best option for trade? James Wiseman, far and away. He commands about $10 million in salary this year and has spent most of his games in the G-League. While plus-minus can be a deceiving stat, Wise has had trouble defensively and on the glass - two major areas which the Warriors need him to be good at - in addition to some poor numbers. The positive side is that he’s looked excellent offensively, and while that may make him playable for the Dubs, it could also make him the most valuable asset which the team could part with. So, with realistic expectations in mind, here are the players the Warriors could target to improve their rotation.
1) Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz
This one seems obvious. Olynyk is shooting 44% from three for the Jazz this season and has shown some excellent value in his age 31 season. It was considered widely possible at the beginning of the year that he’d be traded from Utah, as he fits a need a lot of teams have. Olynyk provides valuable frontcourt floor-spacing to open up the Warriors’ ability to attack the paint and a big body on the other end - two things Golden State could definitely use. He’s not an incredible rebounder, just a solid one, but teams are most after his shooting and playoff experience from playing for the championship runner-up Miami Heat in 2020.
However, Utah’s on a bit of a roll right now: They hold the 8th seed in the West, and have shown plenty of fight. If they can keep this trend up, Olynyk may not be made available given how important he is to their success. It’s worth noting, however, that the play of both Jarred Vanderbilt and Walker Kessler could minimize the need for him. While he’d be an excellent trade target, getting him will most likely be contingent on giving up a draft pick in addition to Wiseman, and possibly another player like Ryan Rollins… if the Jazz are open to dealing him at all at this point in the season.
2) Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are having a rough go this year. They’re struggling to win games against teams like the Knicks despite big numbers from DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine, have an 11-16 record, and have also been rumored to maybe be sellers at the deadline this year. While there’s likely other guys the Warriors could get who have better fit, Caruso’s one of the better options in a vacuum. He’s a top-rated guard defender who shoots efficiently and can even get up above the rim a little bit. He was a big part of the Lakers championship run in 2020, so while young, he still has experience. Defensively, a trade like this would allow Klay Thompson to slide into defending wings more often, something he’s had better success with this season; Thompson’s size and IQ allow for him to take on those kinds of assignments more, but his injury history inhibits his ability to stay in front of quicker 1s and 2s, something a trade like this solves in addition to picking up a great point-of-attack defender, a spot the Warriors have struggled in so far this season.
Caruso seems like the most adaptable option, but it causes a bit of a backcourt positional logjam. That’s a lot of guys on the roster who are 6’4 or shorter, and while it could work to a degree, it doesn’t address a lack of second-chance points or shooting which the Warriors need. One could argue it’s a bit redundant with what Donte DiVincenzo brings to the team. It would require some ultra-small lineups, and with more and more talented bigs entering the league, that could become problematic in a tight West where a lot of those guys play.
3) Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Stewart’s a bit of an underrated pick here. In fact, he may actually be the ideal one. He addresses most of the needs the Warriors have in the bench unit: Offensive rebounding, frontcourt shooting, and switchable defense on both the interior and perimeter. He’s an undersized center at 6’9, but still clips in at 37% shooting on decent volume from the outside and grabs 2.4 offensive rebounds per game. He can crash the glass while still opening up the paint depending on the game strategy, and he’s proved he’s a very solid defender for a position where the other guy’s usually a few inches taller. The Warriors haven’t made much use of traditional centers anyways, so there isn’t much to lose there.
He also plays for the Pistons, who are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and have lost their former #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham for the year. They’re in a phase in their rebuild where they can take some time to develop a project player with a very high potential ceiling at a position where they could gamble to improve. Detroit would not only be able to take Wiseman and maybe minimal draft compensation straight up with their salary room, but sweetening the pot could also net Golden State someone like Saddiq Bey, a 6’7 wing with versatile offensive talent who can play serviceable team defense and rebound well, to shore up the bench unit and lengthen the usable rotation.
The problem with this trade? Stewart’s age. This is his 3rd season in the NBA, and he’s only 21 years old. While that’s slightly mitigated by playing over 67 games both of the last two seasons, meaning he has more experience, it’s unclear if he could replicate his Detroit production for the Warriors where expectations and level of play is much higher, and if a lack of veteran know-how will be an issue in the playoffs.
(Photo credit: Chris Schwegler / Getty Images)