The Golden State Warriors have started the season as the best team in the Western Conference, sitting as the No. 1 seed with an 11-3 record through the first month of the season. They’ve been convincingly beating teams on both ends of the court and are 3rd (+10.2) in net rating this season.
Even with their success, it’s no secret that the Warriors were heavily monitoring stars available for trade over the summer. They had public trade attempts for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen which failed to materialize, but insiders believe the Warriors are likely to make a trade sometime soon before the trade deadline.
With the strong start to the season, the Warriors don’t need to make a blockbuster acquisition. Instead, acquiring a player who will perfectly complement their current roster would be ideal, especially with De’Anthony Melton’s season-ending injury.
As a result, we think Brooklyn Nets forward duo Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith could be on the Warriors wishlist ahead of the trade deadline.
Johnson is averaging 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds so far this season, providing extremely high-level wing play for the Nets. With the franchise reportedly making everyone on the roster available for potential trades, Johnson might be the one to generate the most interest. He’s a three-level scorer who is shooting 39.3% from three-point range on 7.8 attempts per game.
say less 🤝 https://t.co/QtiBPGyMH0 pic.twitter.com/aUNfxHgjvP
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 20, 2024
The Warriors’ motion offense would be perfect for Johnson to thrive within, especially in a frontcourt pairing with Draymond Green.
The price for Johnson won’t be small, so the Warriors will likely have to part with a young asset like Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski. If they continue to hold them as untouchables, Andrew Wiggins might be sent away with additional first-round picks to satiate the Nets.
Johnson makes $23.6 million, so the Warriors will either need to use Wiggins’ $26.2 million in salary to make a deal happen or club multiple contracts with Kuminga ($7.6 million) or Podziemski ($3.5 million).
If this is a price too steep for the Warriors for a rotational forward, looking at Johnson’s teammate Dorian Finney-Smith could bring ideal results.
Dorian Finney-Smith was MONEY in the 2nd half.
🔥 17 PTS
🔥 6-6 FGM
🔥 5-5 3PM
The @BrooklynNets win a thriller! pic.twitter.com/mZC33jMnr8
— NBA (@NBA) November 5, 2024
Finney-Smith isn’t the offensive spark plug Johnson is, averaging 11.2 points and 4.7 rebounds on 42.5% from three this season. But he’s an extremely dependable frontcourt defender who plays with high IQ and versatility to be on the perimeter or on the inside.
Offensively, Finney-Smith is a corner specialist and can knock shots down from deep. We’ve seen him sink eight three-pointers in a Playoff game before, so the veteran forward could be an incredible addition to the lineup as a capable shooter who will match Draymond’s defensive intensity.
A deal for Finney-Smith ($14.9 million) wouldn’t be too expensive and could let the Warriors keep their prized young assets intact. A first-round pick alongside someone like Moses Moody could do the trick, with Moody still struggling to find his role on the franchise despite being extended on a three-year, $37,.5 million contract over the summer.
The Nets can add some solid young assets from the Warriors if they engage in a deal for either of their two veteran forwards. Golden State has a clear use for them to ensure they can compete for a championship once again, so it’ll be interesting to see what direction the franchise goes closer to the trade deadline.
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