For roughly the last year or so, the Golden State Warriors have been part of numerous trade rumors. In that time, they have been linked to players like Jimmy Butler, Lauri Markkanen, and Paul George. As they look to maximize their championship window with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, it makes sense for Golden State to keep tabs on the trade market. However, according to recent reports, a major trade this season does not seem likely.
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk reported that two Western Conference execs expect the Warriors to wait until the offseason to pursue a major trade. This is in spite of their reported interest in Butler, who recently requested a trade.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Christmas that Butler had Golden State on his list of preferred destinations. But the two Western Conference executives expect the Warriors to hold off until the offseason if they take a big swing, which means holding on to much of their assets in case a superstar becomes available.
The Warriors already made one trade this season, acquiring Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets.
NBA Execs Provide Massive Update On Major Warriors Trade
The Golden State Warriors’ Season Ahead of the Trade Deadline
Despite starting the season off hot, the Warriors are just 21-20 and own the No. 11 seed in the West. After losing Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason, many expected to Warriors to fall off a little bit. At first, this did not seem to be the case. They began the year 12-3 and were elite on both sides of the ball. Now, they rank 20th in offense and ninth in defense. Additionally, their 0.6 net rating ranks right in the middle of the league at 15th.
Recently, Curry gave a brutally honest comment about the team’s slump. In doing so, the Davidson alum made it clear he is not “okay with being on an average basketball team.”
“Anyone who thinks I’m okay with being on an average basketball team is insane,” Curry continued. “Trade machines are fun, but what does that actually look like? We’re gonna handle our business. Mike [Dunleavy] is gonna handle his. We will see where we end up.”
The Last Word
Golden State is in an interesting spot. They are an incredibly talented team, but there is no doubt they have struggled for most of the season. Things may be looking up for the team, though. The Warriors have won their last two games and three of their last five. Additionally, they will take on the Boston Celtics, who have also struggled recently, on Monday.
Even if the Warriors make a trade, there is no guarantee it would push them into title contention. There is plenty of competition ahead of them in the West. Most notably, the Oklahoma City Thunder look poised for their first NBA Finals appearance in over a decade. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played. However, there are reasons to be concerned if you are a Warriors fan.
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