The Golden State Warriors are faltering as the weeks are passing and it isn’t getting better. The fact that the Warriors played some of their best basketball against the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets and still lost the game on Thursday night could be the final proof that this team doesn’t have what it takes anymore.
Stephen Curry’s production has not been enough, Klay Thompson is a free agent next season, Draymond Green is out indefinitely, and players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are frustrated with Steve Kerr. With so many issues, the Warriors have a critical period leading up to the February trade deadline because the team’s 16-18 record is indicative of a major problem.
Trade Candidates
– Klay Thompson ($43,219,440), Chris Paul ($30,800,00), Andrew Wiggins ($24,330,357), Draymond Green ($22,321,429), Gary Payton II ($8,715,000), Kevon Looney ($7,500,000), Jonathan Kuminga ($6,012,840), Moses Moody ($3,918,480), Brandin Podziemski ($3,352,404)
Klay Thompson is the biggest name on the trading block since he has been part of the iconic Splash Brothers duo, winning four NBA titles. However, he is no longer untouchable because he is averaging 17.2 points per game on 38.4% from three which are solid numbers but not worth the $43 million he is getting paid. Considering that Thompson has yet to sign a long-term deal, it might be time for the Warriors to move on and there could be many teams interested in acquiring a sharpshooter to bolster their rosters.
Chris Paul is 38 years old and certainly past his prime, meaning only a few teams want to take on a salary of over $30 million for him this season and next season as well. Averaging 9.0 points and 7.3 assists per game in predominantly a bench role, Paul is a leader who might not fit into Golden State’s plans going forward. The Warriors have the largest payroll in the league this season worth $211,820,254 and Paul’s immense salary is a reason why.
Andrew Wiggins’ value has fallen since he was arguably the second-best player during Golden State’s championship run in the 2021-22 season. Wiggins has struggled with his offense this season, averaging 11.9 points per game on 29.7% from three. Wiggins is under contract until the end of the 2025-26 season (player option in 2026-27) and that might not be the best thing for his trade value. However, at 28 years old, he is still a player in his prime.
Draymond Green is making it hard on himself for some reason. Nobody expects him to score, put up big numbers, or even act as the third-best player on the team anymore but rather be available and compete on defense like he always does. Instead, Green has gotten himself ejected three times and is struggling with his temperament. Not many teams want to pay Green over $20 million a season until 2025-26 with a player option for the 2026-27 campaign.
Payton II is a player with strong character and competes hard on defense but he isn’t the hottest commodity in the NBA right now. Averaging only 5.4 points per game, Payton II might not be as impactful with other teams as he is with the Warriors. Salary matching and the player’s ability to compete on defense could make him a useful trade asset regardless.
Kevon Looney is an active big man who has found a role similar to what Andrew Bogut did for the Warriors in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. A rebounder who plays hard on defense, Looney has boosted his value with the Warriors even if he lacks offensive ability on the block. Averaging 7.4 rebounds per game, Looney can play important minutes and he is only making $8,000,000 next year before he is a free agent.
Jonathan Kuminga might be the hottest trade asset the Warriors have to offer. He is posting a career-high 12.8 points per game this season, Kuminga is showing signs of developing into the player we expect him to become and the fact that he is unnerved with the role he is playing currently could mean teams feel the need to make a trade for the 21-year-old. Any blockbuster deal the Warriors want to engage in will almost have to include Kuminga.
Moses Moody is another player the Warriors know they can use for big trades because he is only 21 years old and posting 8.4 points per game which is his career-high. The youngster is getting better as a scorer and defender and he is another valuable asset the team can trust going forward or pair with Kuminga for trades.
Podziemski has surprised many fans with how quickly he has gotten accustomed to the Warriors system. The No. 19 overall pick is posting 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game this season on 41.6% from three so many teams have placed the young man on their radar with a chance to strike important trades if they ship out their star players.
Realistic Targets
– Jerami Grant ($27,586,207), DeMar DeRozan ($28,600,000), Pascal Siakam ($37,893,408), Zach LaVine ($40,064,220)
The Golden State Warriors need to fix their 20th-ranked defense and the best way to do it is to acquire a player who can defend multiple positions and also contribute offensively. Jerami Grant is that exact player because he is averaging 21.8 points per game on 42.0% from three and can legitimately handle most guards and forwards in the NBA. At 29 years old, Grant has time on his side and a deal that gives Portland a first-round pick would do Golden State wonders.
Potential Trade Package: Andrew Wiggins, 2027 First-Round Pick
The Chicago Bulls are rebuilding and would the Warriors be willing to trade for DeMar DeRozan? DeRozan is averaging 22.2 points per game on 46.5% from the field this season and can still score with the best of them. For a package involving Andrew Wiggins who is available for a trade, the Warriors might be willing to trade for a non-three-point shooter for a chance to diversify their offense and improve locker room cohesion with a veteran presence. If the Bulls want Wiggins and a first-rounder, this deal could be possible.
Potential Trade Package: Andrew Wiggins, 2027 First-Round Pick
A shocking trade could see the Warriors go for a modern big man who can defend, rebound, pass, and push the pace with the ball. That man is Pascal Siakam, a player posting 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game so he is an excellent all-around player in that sense. The Warriors lack size and defense in the paint, and while Siakam is not an enforcer, he can be a version of that especially when he plays alongside Kevon Looney. If there is a modern big who can fit into the Warriors system, other than Karl-Anthony Towns, it is Pascal Siakam.
Potential Trade Package: Klay Thompson, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick
Zach LaVine fits into the Warriors system because he is an excellent shooter, nailing 38.2% from three over his career, and he can only improve as a defender and playmaker in Steve Kerr’s system. LaVine is only posting 20.7 points per game in 19 appearances, but he has not been performing because he is on the trading block. Alongside Stephen Curry in the backcourt, LaVine would be a major upgrade to get the Warriors back to an above .500 record with a chance to make the Western Conference Finals. Amazingly, there could be a way the Warriors can even get both Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic but it won’t be easy to get that deal done.
Potential Trade Package: Klay Thompson, Brandin Podziemski, 2027 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick
Untouchable Players
– Stephen Curry ($51,915,615)
Obviously, Stephen Curry is the only player on the roster who is untouchable. Unless the point guard starts pouting and demands a trade, which is completely against his nature, he is not going anywhere and will retire with the franchise that once took him No. 7 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. Curry is nearly 36 years old but he is still at the top of his game and any chance for the Warriors to be relevant relies on the point guard’s presence.
The key for Golden State is to find better teammates to pair around Curry and make some moves to keep the fire of the dynasty blazing. Curry is the highest-paid player in the NBA this season and he is irreplaceable for the Warriors organization for reasons even beyond basketball.
