At the start of the campaign, the Golden State Warriors appeared to be a promising unit, capable of asserting their position as a strong playoff contender. However, now at the midway point of the season, it appears that the Warriors have been struck by tragedy.
During the Warriors’ recent win over the Miami Heat, star forward Jimmy Butler left the game with an apparent knee injury. With updates confirming that Butler tore his ACL and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Golden State found itself in a complicated position.
As a response, the Dubs brought Jonathan Kuminga back into the rotation, which has yielded some success. However, given that the 24-year-old forward has demanded a trade and is garnering interest from teams like the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors may need a more long-term solution to keep their title hopes alive.
Currently, the Warriors (25-20) are expected to make some adjustments ahead of the trade deadline. To address the team’s immediate roster needs and improve its chances of contending, here’s a three-team trade idea involving the Kings and the Chicago Bulls that could prove worthwhile:
Proposed Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Nikola Vucevic, Keon Ellis
Sacramento Kings Receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Chicago Bulls Receive: Malik Monk, Gary Payton II, 2027 second-round pick (CHI via CHA)
The Warriors Solve Their Roster Issues
The Warriors currently face two major roster issues: depth in the big man rotation and perimeter defense.
With Butler going down, Golden State’s perimeter defense has taken a considerable hit. To address this, acquiring a player like Keon Ellis may be sufficient.
Ellis has been on the Warriors’ radar since the offseason. Although the Kings haven’t been inclined to trade him, given the direction the franchise is headed, a majority of the players on the roster may be available in trade negotiations.
Keon Ellis has proven himself to be a reliable point-of-attack defender and three-point shooter. Due to inconsistent minutes this season, his stats haven’t been very impressive. Still, with averages of 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game on 35.7% shooting from the field, he could be a valuable pickup.
Apart from Ellis, the Warriors would also acquire Nikola Vucevic in this trade, effectively addressing their center rotation issues.
Vucevic is a veteran big man with a versatile offensive skill set. While he is capable of spacing the floor with his perimeter shooting, the big man has also proven himself to be a reliable interior presence, especially while rebounding.
This season, Vucevic is averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 50.8% from the field and 37.1% from beyond the arc. Although he isn’t known for his defensive exploits, considering what he could offer as a rebounder and as support for Draymond Green, the Dubs may see merit in acquiring him.
Additionally, Vucevic is positioned as a low-risk acquisition. By virtue of being in the final year of his deal, the Warriors still stand to benefit from the cap flexibility they gain once his $21.4 million contract expires.
The Kings Get Their Star Player
The Sacramento Kings have shown an interest in acquiring Jonathan Kuminga since the offseason, even emerging as the most likely landing spot for the 24-year-old forward. Although the Warriors managed to re-sign their forward to a two-year deal before the season started, the Kings may finally be able to land their preferred target this time around.
Acquiring Jonathan Kuminga aligns perfectly with Sacramento’s plans of pursuing a rebuild. With virtually every player on the trade block, barring Keegan Murray and Nique Clifford, the Kings are looking to start over, laying the foundation with young talent.
In this regard, acquiring Kuminga would serve to form the team’s new core, which could prove mutually beneficial.
In Golden State, the forward has struggled to earn consistent minutes in the rotation. After Butler sustained an injury, Kuminga was brought back in as relief after missing 16 games. Needless to say, this doesn’t fuel his aspirations of becoming a star.
Due to a reduced role, Jonathan Kuminga is averaging 12.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 44.5% shooting from the field. Still, having posted 20 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 21 minutes in his first game back, the forward showcased his ability to contribute when called upon to do so. The Kings may view this very favorably.
The Bulls Gain Veteran Assets
The Chicago Bulls appear to be headed for another season as part of the middle of the pack. Currently sitting in ninth place with a 21-22 record, Chicago is far from being the team it was after its terrific start to the campaign.
Despite having some talented pieces on the roster, it has become clear that the Bulls aren’t geared to make a deep playoff run. However, given that they still have the potential to be competitive, making the right adjustments could help Chicago improve.
With this approach in mind, this trade proves to be quite promising. By acquiring Malik Monk and Gary Payton II, the Bulls would add some solid veteran depth, potentially boosting their backcourt bench depth and production.
Monk has positioned himself as a reliable scoring asset, especially in the second unit. Although his contributions haven’t been impressive this season, averaging 12.2 points and 2.4 assists per game on 44.6% shooting from the field and 42.1% from three-point range, Monk possesses the ability to step up as a scorer when given the opportunity.
While Monk serves as an offensive boost, Gary Payton II positions himself as a defensive upgrade for the Bulls. The guard hasn’t earned significant playing time in the Warriors’ rotation, resulting in averages of 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, but his defensive intensity and leadership could be valuable for Chicago.
Realistically, this trade may not help the Bulls become a strong playoff team. However, by including a second-round pick in the trade, Chicago may find making this deal more appealing from a rebuilding perspective.
The Warriors Benefit The Most From This Trade
After a detailed examination of the impact of this trade on the three teams involved, it becomes quite clear that the Warriors stand to gain the most from this deal. By acquiring Keon Ellis and Nikola Vucevic, without having to part with draft capital, the Dubs solidify their roster strength while keeping their draft reserves intact.
Although this would be an impressive feat if the Warriors succeed in pulling it off, some concerns may arise regarding the team’s potential to become a contender even after this trade scenario.
The West has been quite competitive this season. With a three-way tie for fifth place and only half a game separating fifth from fourth, climbing up the leaderboard poses quite a challenge.
To tackle this, the Warriors are likely to look to Stephen Curry yet again. With the superstar carrying a considerably larger burden now that Butler has been sidelined, it will be interesting to see whether Curry and the Dubs find a way to overcome this obstacle.
