NBA Trade Deadline: Five Possible Trade Targets for the Warriors

At (22-21) and sitting just outside the eighth spot in the Western Conference, you could say the Golden State Warriors are battling for both a playoff appearance as well as another hopeful run at a championship. In what has been a season filled with momentous wins and gut-wrenching losses, one thing is for certain: this Warriors team has the potential to be a legitimate threat, but they’ll need some work to get there.

Golden State can address those needs via this Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline, where the Warriors could very well be buyers: uncharted territory for an organization that has mainly stayed put during the deadline. There are targets available that could potentially give this roster a boost, and Golden State has the assets to keep Bob Myers’ phone buzzing.

As the front office both dials and fields calls they’ll do so with both the present and future in mind. A playoff run this season would ensure another prime year of Steph Curry is not gone to waste, while the prospect of adding an impact player for next season (when a presumably healthy Klay Thompson suits up) must be kept in mind.

Which players are worth dialing the phone for? Here a few worth keeping an eye on.

Best (Fit) Scenario: Lonzo Ball

Amid a historical shooting drought to start the season, rumors began to swirl that the Warriors were gauging interest for Kelly Oubre Jr., and subsequently were keeping a pulse on Lonzo Ball’s availability. A head-scratching thought at the time, but after seeing the impact LaMelo Ball has had with the Charlotte Hornets, you’d be lying if you claimed you didn’t imagine him displaying the same knack for playmaking alongside Steph and Klay. If not LaMelo, how about his big brother?

Lonzo could possibly be the best (fit) scenario, as his priority to find his teammates could mesh well with Steph and Klay, who both excel at getting their shots off the ball. A fast break scenario with Lonzo leading the way and dishing to two of the greatest shooters of all time is a match made in heaven.

Ball’s defense and high IQ certainly draw the appeal of Steve Kerr, and he’s significantly improved the one facet of his game that was a universal critique: three-point shooting. Lonzo is shooting 38% on the season, a noteworthy jump from his 30% during his rookie year. A restricted free agent after the season, Golden State would make a deal only with the belief that they could convince him to be a part of their future, and would likely result in Oubre and one more asset heading to New Orleans.

Strategic Swap: Aaron Gordon

Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Aaron Gordon is among the targets for Golden State ahead of the trade deadline, with the former number four overall pick having multiple suitors inquiring about his availability. At just 25 years old, with his skill set of a combo forward and having already been signed on for next season, the appeal makes sense in the eyes of the Warriors.

Fundamentally, he’s the type of player that would excel in his role within the Warriors system. Gordon is a versatile big who can defend, make the pass when necessary, and provide a scoring punch as well. Swapping for Gordon is just as much about who they would likely give up in return.

With Klay back at the helm next season, it draws into question the role of Kelly Oubre Jr. If there lies questions about his fit with Klay back at the two spot, then the time is now for the Warriors to get value in a deal. Oubre, plus another young player, would likely be included in a trade for Gordon, who’d subsequently be returning back to his Bay Area roots.

Strategic Swap 2: Bogdan Bogdanovic

Per the latest from The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Warriors have shown interest in trading for Atlanta Hawks’ guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. After spending his first three seasons in Sacramento with the Kings, Bogdanovic joined the Hawks during free agency after Sacramento declined the four-year $72 million offer sheet he signed with Atlanta. After a slow start to the season, Bogdanovic was sidelined for 25 games after suffering a knee fracture on January 9th.

Similar to a potential trade for Gordon, the Warriors would be eyeing how Bogdanovic could complement a lineup next season featuring the return of Klay Thompson. Bogdanovic is averaging 13 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists over the past four games while shooting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. His reliability to shoot from outside while being a capable defender is the two-way skill that could allow him to excel in Golden State.

Any potential deal here would include Kelly Oubre Jr. and another asset, with the Warriors’ belief that it’s necessary to maximize Oubre’s value now in an attempt to add depth for next season and beyond.

Practical Play: Nemanja Bjelica

Under a new front office that is focusing on the youth movement going forward, the Sacramento Kings have been well known to gauge interest in their sixth-year veteran Nemanja Bjelica. Bjelica’s minutes have dropped this season, having played sparingly and only when needed in relief of an injury to the starting rotation. But over the course of his career, Bjelica has been a 38% shooter from behind the arc, which is why numerous contenders have called regarding his availability.

The Warriors may not be contenders, but Bjelica’s shooting could be welcome for a roster that is in need of it. Bjelica may also not be the most apt defender, but his size would be welcomed in a frontcourt that has lacked available bodies due to either injury or health and safety protocols.

Honorable Mention: Paul Millsap

At 36 years old the four-time all-star is no longer at the peak of his game, but he’s become a luxury role player for the Denver Nuggets. For a Warriors team that lacks size and is hopeful for a playoff berth, Paul Millsap could provide a necessary toughness while being a respectable defender in the paint.

If Golden State secures a first-round matchup by way of a lower seed, chances are they would face either the Jazz and Rudy Gobert, the Suns and Deandre Ayton, or potentially Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. To have a puncher’s chance against some of the bigs and the top West contenders, size in the paint is a welcome addition and Millsap, even at his age, could very well bring that to the table.