Rumours continue to swirl as the February 8 NBA trade deadline approaches and the Golden State Warriors trade options are a hot topic. The Warrior’s dismal 20-24 record has them sitting near the bottom of the table, making people wonder what the team will do with the upcoming trade deadline.
Once titans of the NBA landscape, the Warriors find themselves adrift in a sea of trade rumors. Their uncharacteristic middling record, coupled with the looming trade deadline, has thrown the Bay Area into a frenzy of speculation. Who stays, who goes, and who could the Dubs bring in to reignite their championship flame?
Will the Warriors trade Klay Thompson?
Let’s start by saying that no, it is not likely they will trade Klay Thompson. The rumor began when The Athletic’s Shams Charania said on FanDuel’s Run It Back: “They’re going to take calls on Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul,” Charania said. “Could they get interest even on a guy like Klay Thompson? Those are very much open conversations for the Warriors, they have to be open-minded.”
What moves can the Golden State Warriors make before the trade deadline? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/3NpCoLD94a
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 29, 2024
Thompson has expressed his desire to retire with the team that drafted him back in 2011 and while he may not be playing the way he was before his achilles injury, Thompson is still a great player and crucial to the foundation of the team (and the Splash Bros).
So If Not Thompson: Could It Be Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga?
Rumors continue to swirl around Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins, and even Jonathan Kuminga.
Veteran Chris Paul joined last season to bolster championship aspirations, but Paul is out with a hand injury, making him a possible trade option. Paul’s hefty salary and age also put him on the chopping block. Paul’s expiring $30 million deal makes him an ideal trade option (and a good way to avoid the second tax apron).
Andrew Wiggins remains the top player NBA insiders say the Warriors could move. The Athletics’ Anthony Slater reported that the team has considered player-for-player offers for Wiggins, but hasn’t committed to anything. Marc Stein commented that the Warriors have struggled to establish a good market for Wiggins and even if they were willing to trade him, they don’t know who they would trade him for.
.@TheSteinLine says the Warriors probably are "most open" to moving Andrew Wiggins ahead of the trade deadline 👀 pic.twitter.com/zPprNcang9
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 28, 2024
Jonathan Kuminga is the Warriors’ prized young prospect who has shown flashes of brilliance, but inconsistent playing time and questions about his position create trade potential. However, it remains unlikely the Warriors will trade Kuminga as team insiders continue to hint that the Warriors consider him a foundation player and someone to build the team around.
Navigating the NBA Trade Deadline: Cautious Optimism or Stormy Seas?
The Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy hinted the team would like to strengthen their defense. While it is obvious that the Warriors could use some defensive help, Dunleavy also admitted that change has to come from within.
Mike Dunleavy explains the Warriors' front office strategy with the trade deadline quickly approaching 👀 pic.twitter.com/1oETZXIp2a
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 26, 2024
There were rumors the Warriors were interested in Pascal Siakam but those hopes were quickly dashed when the Toronto Raptors agreed to trade Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for three players and three future picks.
With Siakam off the table, there are not many solid leads on what the Warriors could or will do ahead of the trade deadline. There do not seem to be many options that would give the Warriors the boost they desperately need.
There is also the question of money. The Warriors have one of the highest tax bills in the league at $206 million, with a luxury tax of $186 million. Players like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, and even Chris Paul, are not cheap. Could the team make trade decision with the goal of saving some money?
It seems anyone’s guess on what the Warriors will do, or not do, with the upcoming trade deadline. With the Warriors sitting near the bottom of the table, trade options lacking, and a struggling defense, it begs the question: is there any hope to salvage the season?