Buyer #1: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors pushed heavily for Lauri Maurenekan this summer and were in deep talks before he ultimately signed a supermax contract. If the Warriors were willing to ship players like Jonatha Kuminga, Moses Moody, and Andrew Wiggins this summer, it’s hard to imagine that changing come February.
Steph Curry finished the Olympics strong and has shown no signs of slowing down, but it’s hard to find a clear second option for the Warriors at the moment, and they can look for one come the trade deadline. They added Deanthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, and Buddy Hield this offseason, all solid veteran players but I don’t think it moves the needle.
Additionally, the glaring need for the Warriors in the past few years is a big man. The vintage Warriors were Kings of small ball, but with the size of teams like Denver, Minnesota, and Mavericks, it’s hard to compete with small ball lineups.
Kuminga is the player to watch, as he is eligible for a five-year 224 million extension. His play and where their record will decide whether they pay him next offseason or move him for a veteran player who can contribute to a playoff run at the deadline.