Golden State Warriors: 5 Potential Trade Targets

3. Los Angeles Clippers

With Festus Ezeli expected to miss about a month following his latest knee surgery, the Warriors could use a little insurance in the frontcourt. Andrew Bogut‘s health hasn’t been the most reliable thing in the world over the last few seasons and no offense to Marreese Speights, but the Dubs would probably prefer a little more stability at the center spot.

Cole Aldrich may seem like the big, slow, plodding center the Dubs have been lucky to avoid, but he’s actually been having a decent season with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 5.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 11.6 minutes per game. Those numbers don’t scream “trade target!” but per 36 minutes, he’s averaging 17.1 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

Of course, there’s a major difference between per 36 minutes numbers and, you know, actually producing those numbers in 36 minutes a night, but the Warriors would only need Aldrich for a few minutes a night until Ezeli returns. For a trade package of Ian Clark and a second round draft pick, perhaps the Dubs would enjoy that frontcourt depth he provides — in the meantime, at least.

From the Clippers’ perspective, Aldrich has been useful in limited minutes, but with Austin Rivers sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks, Los Angeles could use a backup guard like Clark, who is averaging 4.3 points in 9.7 minutes per game while shooting 42.4 percent from three-point range.

Clark has come on and proven himself as a viable NBA player, he just hasn’t gotten the minutes because he plays for such a deep and talented team.

However, Clark becomes a free agent this summer, which is why keeping Aldrich might be a better idea for the Clippers than helping out a Pacific Division rival, but both teams would be getting insurance at a position of need. Lob City would also be shorthanded at the center spot if they executed a trade like this, so this might be a lateral move to be avoided.

Next: No. 2