FEB. 7, 2014 || @iAMgoldenstate
As the trade deadline steadily approaches, the Golden State Warriors find themselves in the mix of a couple different trade rumors, none of which have much supporting evidence.
Organizations looking to make a deal before the deadline have made it easy for other teams by identifying themselves in one of two categories known as “buyers” and “sellers.” Buyers are normally teams looking to find one or two extra pieces to help them out going into the second half of the season, and most of the time these teams are playoff teams that aren’t unanimous contenders for the championship. Sellers are teams that are looking to unload a player or two for whatever reason.
According to Ric Bucher, Golden State is listed as a buyer.
What this means is the organization acknowledges their recent struggles and is looking to add the piece they desperately need to make some noise in the playoffs. Early in the season, Golden State was looking like a contender considering how easily they were able to best other teams. Now facing the trouble of being knocked out of the playoff picture completely, the Warriors need to make a deal in order to avoid being first-round fodder.
Despite adding pieces like Andre Iguodala in the offseason and Jordan Crawford last month, the Dubs actually find themselves in the same exact position last season fighting for premier playoff position. While to some this may seem like an accomplishment remembering that Golden State hasn’t made back-to-back playoff appearances since the 1990s, others can see that the Warriors didn’t exactly get much better since last season. Although that may be a generalized statement, the fact of the matter is that many expected the Warriors to do way better than last year, and they’ve so far disappointed in 2014.
So these rumors (more like speculation) come from the Warriors’ beat writer for San Jose Mercury News, Tim Kawakami.
In his detailed two-part evaluation of the Warriors at the halfway mark, Kawakami suggests a trio of trades that Golden State could explore before the deadline. In his defense, he does say that his suggestions are building blocks for the long-term and not to make the team better going into this year’s postseason. He also acknowledges that the two players he is most willing to trade are David Lee and Harrison Barnes based on the fact that neither are necessarily irreplaceable. He also keeps in mind the long-term salary demands for both, as well as the owners’ affinity for both players.
That said, let’s explore his options:
First option: Lee and Barnes for Luol Deng and Dion Waiters
Kawakami states that this trade would do several things in the long-term for the Warriors, but the fact of the matter is that this trade completely destroys any hope for the Warriors making it to the playoffs this season. Earlier this month, Kawakami tweeted that Lee was central to the Warriors’ success since he’s the team’s only real interior scorer:
If the Warriors were NOT still in the playoff run, I would actually inquire into this trade for three of the reasons that Kawakami mentions: it gives them another young wingman, give the Warriors a couple of shiny new assets, and it clears up a huge chunk of future cap space; however, the fact of the matter is that the Warriors still have a chance of putting on a solid performance in the postseason, so trading away their one interior scorer before this year’s deadline would be a waste of a season.
Second option: Lee, Barnes, Ezeli and Nedovic for Deng and Jarrett Jack
You can pretty much take what I said about the first option and put it here. While Jack would be a great re-addition to the team, losing Lee AND Ezeli would still take away Golden State’s only inside threats.
Third option: Barnes for Greg Monroe.
Earlier this year, I explored GSW’s options in acquiring Monroe. Although I was initially against trading away Barnes earlier in the season, I’ve come to realize that he is much better than many of us realize and he deserve a bigger role that he can’t get with the Warriors. While a Monroe for Speights trade would solve all those problems, Detroit has little need for another power forward. Barnes would be the most intriguing asset that the Warriors could offer to the Pistons, and having Monroe to score on the low block would do wonders for the team. It’s also likely Monroe would be open to re-signing with the Warriors when he becomes a free agent next this offseason, which would make Lee expendable. Lee could then be traded for more valuable bench pieces, especially if the Dubs were unable to go far in the 2014 playoffs.
This was Kawakami’s best suggestion, in my opinion, because it gives the team immediate AND long-term help. It also gives Golden State much more flexibility in finding a place to dump Lee’s horrible contract, which many know I’m not a fan of.
At this very moment, Bob Myers may be calling other GMs around the league looking for a deal to make before the deadline. We can only hope he and his staff make the right choice as we near the deadline. Whatever the outcome, I’m sure all of us will find a way or reason to support any decision the front office may make, no matter how crazy.
For now, let’s hope the team stays focused for tomorrow night’s game against the red hot Phoenix Suns.
What are your thoughts? Be sure to follow me on Twitter @iAMgoldenstate and share some of your insight with me, or just write something in the comment box below! Thanks for reading!
