The defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have stumbled to start the new season. Their bench was severely beaten up, and Steve Kerr has had trouble finding a rotation that works for them now.
Furthermore, it’s likely that they lack the necessary personnel to win back-to-back titles. Therefore, despite their deep affection for their prospects, they may have to abandon some of them.
Keeping this in mind and the Warriors’ salary cap constraints in mind, these are the three most likely trade possibilities that might help Stephen Curry and the Warriors right the ship.
3. Jakob Poeltl
The San Antonio Spurs are currently uninterested in a championship. Their only goal is to get the number one overall selection in the 2018 NBA Choose so that they may draft Victor Wembanyama, hence they are likely to deal away most of their older players.
The Dubs have benefited much from Kevon Looney’s play, but James Wiseman is too much of a liability. They’d benefit from having a big guy like Jakob Poeltl on the bench who can help anchor the defense and isn’t a major problem in the paint.
2. Bojan Bogdanovic
The acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovic was a huge win for the Detroit Pistons. Their young players have benefited greatly from his presence as a seasoned veteran, and he is now playing the greatest basketball of his career. He is, however, not compatible with their timeframe.
As much as they care about him, they should seek compensation for him. He fits well into Steve Kerr’s style since he is a smart player, a good distributor, an effective shooter, and a dependable team defender.
1. Gary Trent Jr.
It’s no secret that Gary Trent Jr. will be highly sought after in the trade market, and rumors have surfaced that the Toronto Raptors are exploring a complete squad overhaul.
Trent Jr. is a tenacious backcourt defender and one of the league’s best three-point shooters. As with Gary Payton II, he has the 3-and-D abilities that the Dubs have yearned for all season and has the potential to be a key spark for them.
