The Golden State Warriors are going as far as their superstar, Stephen Curry, takes them. The franchise is without Klay Thompson for the entire season, and only Draymond Green is there to handle the leadership role alongside Curry. As a result, the Warriors are an afterthought so far.
But Curry is having an MVP-caliber season while Klay likely returns next season with a vengeance. If the Warriors can find the next All-Star player to team up with Curry, Green, and Thompson they might be back in the NBA title mix.
The Warriors have an incredible mix of assets including talented rookie James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre Jr, Eric Paschall, and Minnesota’s 1st round pick to Golden State protected for selections 1-3 in 2021. Here are the players the Warriors can acquire to find their next superstar player to replace Kevin Durant.
Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis has appeared in 17 games this season after missing a few games due to injury at the start of the season. Porzingis is averaging 20.5 PPG and 8.2 RPG as the sidekick to Luka Doncic so far, which are solid numbers for a player who is a second option on the team. Porzingis has All-Star talent and is only a few years removed from being the franchise player for the Knicks.
Porzingis is probably considered untouchable by the Mavericks, but the package the Warriors can offer is simply too good. The Mavericks should do everything possible to add pieces around Luka Doncic, and a return could be enough for the Mavericks to pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade. Porzingis helps the Warriors capture a top-4 seed this season and makes the Warriors a legitimate title threat next season when Klay returns.
Probability: Realistic
Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is an All-Star and there is no question about that. The young stud is averaging 28.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.2 APG in his best season yet. LaVine took a massive step up last year, but this season he is looking like a superstar offensive player. The Bulls are in tank-now mode, and trading LaVine for assets is the way to go.
The Bulls have some young talent in Coby White and Lauri Markkanen and adding James Wiseman and Andrew Wiggins with the other Warriors assets is an excellent haul for them. The Warriors find a stud in LaVine to be the third Splash Brother alongside Step and Klay, and the Warriors would be right back in the mix with their unstoppable offense.
Probability: Realistic
Bradley Beal
Out of all the available targets in the market right now for Golden State, Bradley Beal makes the most sense. The Warriors need a replacement for Klay Thompson this season, and even when Klay returns, Beal would replace Durant’s scoring immediately. Beal is the best scorer in the league right now, averaging 33.1 PPG in a scintillating fashion.
Bradley Beal and Stephen Curry would be enough to possibly carry the Warriors to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Curry is averaging 30.1 PPG this season as well, and the Warriors would be certainly willing to let go of all their available assets for Beal. Two guys averaging over a combined 60 PPG would be fun to watch, and luckily for the Warriors, the Wizards might be desperate enough to make that happen.
Probability: Realistic
Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best young players in the world. Despite playing for a team that holds a record, Towns is averaging 20.8 PPG and 10.6 RPG in a “down year” marred by a ton of personal issues. Towns does everything well on the floor and is very capable of being a franchise player for any team in the league. If the Warriors can acquire Towns, they would become arguably the best team in the league with Klay’s return.
But a trade for Towns is highly unlikely. The talented big man is one of the most untouchable players in the league, and the Timberwolves wouldn’t give him up for anybody right now. Towns is only 25 years old and the sky’s the limit to what he can bring on both ends of the floor. Unfortunately for Warriors fans, Wiseman and Wiggins won’t be enough.
Probability: Unrealistic
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is without a doubt, a top-2 point guard in the NBA. While many give Stephen Curry the title of the NBA’s best point guard, Damian Lillard is very close behind. Lillard is averaging 29.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 7.4 APG for the Portland Trail Blazers who are well in a playoff spot. Lillard is one of the best scorers in the NBA and one could imagine how the Warriors would look with Lillard, Curry, and Thompson in the lineup. This would be just as good as the Warriors lineup with Durant due to Lillard’s sharpshooting.
Unfortunately for Warriors nation, Lillard is going nowhere. The superstar point guard has pledged his allegiance to Portland and the franchise isn’t trading him for any player in the league. Lillard is the heart and soul of the team, and even an attractive Warriors package won’t be enough to haul Lillard.
Probability: Unrealistic
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