This year’s reconstituted Golden State Warriors look almost exactly like the 2023-24 model, right down to occupying the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference (so far, anyway).
Despite 10-time All-NBA superstar point guard Stephen Curry still looking elite, albeit not quite MVP-elite anymore, the team has struggled defensively and currently sports a thoroughly mediocre 20-20 record.
Last season, Golden State finished at 46-36 and was eliminated by the No. 9-seeded Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament game. It was a far cry from the club’s halcyon days with Curry when the Warriors appeared in six NBA Finals between 2014-15 and 2021-22.
So what is the Warriors’ appetite to shake things up this season?
Sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that Golden State has already reached out about trading for help at the center and power forward position, with Chicago Bulls two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic headlining a list of prospective fits that also includes Utah Jazz big man John Collins, Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas, and Portland Trail Blazers All-Defensive Team center Robert Williams III.
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Starrier wings Jimmy Butler and Cameron Johnson, who are better players but will cost more in salaries and assets, seem like dimmer trade prospects for the Warriors, sources tell Scotto.
It’s no secret that Chicago is open to trading Vucevic and two-time Bulls All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine this season, although no deal has happened for either player just yet.
Read More: Bulls Still Striving to Trade Two Veteran All-Stars
This echoes an earlier report from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Sam Amick and Marcus Thompson II that suggested Vucevic was emerging as a more intriguing trade fit for Golden State than Butler, in large part because the 6-foot-10 big man can likely be had for far fewer assets.
The Warriors might be able to hold onto one-time All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins, who has looked like his 2021-22 self for much of the year, and intriguing young forward Jonathan Kuminga, a restricted free agent this summer.
Vucevic has been enjoying his best individual season since his last All-Star stint, 2020-21, which he split between the Orlando Magic and the Bulls.
As Scotto observes, Vucevic is in the midst of his most efficient season ever. The USC product is averaging 20.1 points on .556/.422/.798 shooting splits, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 40 games for the 18-23 Bulls.
Scotto notes that “several NBA executives” think Vucevic has played his way into requiring a first round pick in return for his services.
He’d add size, shooting, ample rebounding, and passing to a small, limited Warriors center rotation. Currently, undersized center Trayce Jackson-Davis is the team’s starter at the position, while Kevon Looney serves as his backup. Both are 6-foot-9 and relatively slight. 6-foot-6 forward Draymond Green is playing some small-ball center, too.
Adding a player of Vucevic’s caliber would improve Golden State at the center position. He is a versatile scorer, an elite rebounder, and a better-than-average passer at the five spot, and he doesn’t miss games.
Nikola Vucevic is putting together truly outrageous offensive production this season…
Outlandish shooting numbers, old-school footwork oriented post moves, excellent hook and push-shot touch. The scoring is out of control efficient right now. Wonder if/where he gets moved? pic.twitter.com/Hm36jF7XbD
— NBA University (@NBA_University) December 19, 2024
Vucevic is also fairly “affordable” in trade terms — not just thanks to what’s looking like a quite reasonable $20 million salary this season, but also in terms of what kinds of young pieces and draft equity it would cost a rival club to acquire him.
More News: Massive Trade Proposal Sees Wariors Land $90M Rival Star Forward
So what would it take for the Warriors to add the 34-year-old?
Using Spotrac’s NBA Trade Machine, the Warriors could flip shooting guard Buddy Hield, Looney’s expiring deal, and small forward Gui Santos’ minimum contract. Hield has been something of a bust after a hot start to his debut season in San Francisco, while Looney would come off Chicago’s books this summer.
The Warriors have multiple movable first-round draft picks and a few second-rounders at their disposal, and from Chicago’s perspective, the deal would hinge on those assets. Golden State would likely offer the Bulls a protected first-round selection, and perhaps some second-round equity.
Curry made headlines earlier this week when he seemed to be strangely amenable to his club’s sub-par year and appeared to advocate against making a big move to improve the team’s present while possibly offloading some future assets.
“Desperate trades or desperate moves that deplete the future, there is a responsibility on allowing or keeping the franchise in a good space and good spot when it comes to where we leave this thing when we’re done,” Curry said, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
While Curry did recently seem to walk those comments back somewhat, it appears he still is reticent to see the Warriors front office take a swing for a superstar.
More News: Warriors Looking to Upgrade Wing, Possibly Eyeing Star Forward
Slater reports that the four-time champ is still hoping that his team will improve this year.
“Anyone who thinks I’m OK being on an average basketball team is insane,” Curry said. “Take whatever I said, I still stand on it.”
Curry cautioned, however, that he was open to the Warriors making moves.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re not in a situation where we are trying to get better, make appropriate moves that help you do that. [Warriors general manager] Mike [Dunleavy Jr.] knows that. We’ve talked about it. That’s the expectation from me. It doesn’t mean you’re reckless.”
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