Golden State Warriors: 3 players most likely to be traded in 2018-19

1. DeMarcus Cousins

We all know DeMarcus Cousins isn’t coming back next season. This was always going to be a short-term relationship, and both sides were on the same page from the get-go.

So let’s say Cousins gets back on the court sooner than expected. He quickly proves to be quite the asset for the Warriors, serving as the truly dominant center they haven’t had in years. And yet, despite his return to relevance, Golden State decides his presence isn’t needed to pull off the three-peat.

With Boogie headed for free agency in July, it almost makes sense for the Warriors to see what they can get for him. I’m sure swapping him for draft picks would be wise in terms of keeping the talent flowing through the Bay Area. And again, it’s not like Cousins is going to be around much longer — they might as well make the most of that dirt-cheap deal he signed.

Last season, the Warriors didn’t need a big-time center to go the distance. As great as it would be to have Cousins when June rolls around, it’s not a requirement. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Thompson and Green can handle it on their own. Golden State’s options to replace him are limited, but they can remedy that as part of the Cousins trade or via free agency.

It seemed asinine to imagine the Warriors landing another superstar this offseason, but it happened. As we look towards the future, though, a Cousins trade isn’t out of the question.