With only a few days until the deadline, let’s take a look at the best Warriors trade targets…
The Golden State Warriors will be “aggressive” in making moves before the March 25th NBA trade deadline, at least that’s what the team’s president of basketball operations Bob Myers is telling people. The 9th-seeded Dubs are sporting a 21-20 record, and are just a full game below the Dallas Mavericks for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Even if many consider this as a down-year with the injured Klay Thompson sitting out, the Warriors still want to make it to the postseason.
Warriors trade targets 2021
They’re not expected to make much noise in the playoffs, but it will definitely serve as a great momentum for them to build upon for next season.
As it’s now expected that they will make a move or two before the trade deadline, here are five names that could help the Warriors secure a playoff berth in May.
Buddy Hield
The Sacramento Kings still have a shot at the play-in for the last playoff spots in the West, but I really doubt they have what it takes to overtake teams like the Pelicans, the Thunder, and the Grizzlies on their way there. Marvin Bagley is down with an injury again, and Sacramento’s defense is just horrible this season.
If the team is open to gauge the value of their players in the trade market, the Warriors should at least make a call to the Kings to inquire about Buddy Hield‘s services.
Even with an increase in his playing time this season, Hield’s production has surprisingly taken a dip. That means that his trade value will also decrease, which also means that the Warriors won’t have to let go of tons of assets to get him.
Aaron Gordon
If the Orlando Magic opens a portal towards a potential rebuild, Aaron Gordon will be on his way out. It seems like the high-flying combo forward has been part of trade speculations every year, but I see it finally happening before the trade deadline this season.
I expect Gordon to be among Warriors trade targets, especially if they won’t need to include the top-three protected 2021 first-round draft pick that they received from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gordon is not yet an elite defender, but he has enough versatility to cover all bases.
On top of that, Gordon packs a decent three-point shot and he can create plays off the dribble, evident in his 4.0 assists per game average this season.
Paul Millsap
Paul Millsap is also an intriguing trade target for the Warriors. The veteran power forward is still effective in his limited minutes with the Denver Nuggets, and his style of play as a big man will fit the Warriors’ free-flowing, ball movement-heavy system.
In just 23.7 minutes this season, Millsap is putting up 10.0 points on an excellent 38% clip from the three-point line. His playmaking off the post or at the elbow will also be valuable for the Dubs.
Nemanja Bjelica
Another big man that could really help the Warriors is Nemanja Bjelica. The Serbian sweet-shooting center is seeing fewer minutes with the Kings this season, and that could indicate that he is a tradeable asset.
Prior to this year, Bjelica produced three consecutive campaigns of averaging at least 40% from beyond the arc. He doesn’t have much credibility on defense, but the fact that he can space out the floor will help him co-exist with Draymond Green in the frontcourt.
Larry Nance Jr.
Larry Nance‘s game is best-suited for the Warriors. He is a high-motor combo big who has grown into an underrated playmaker at this stage of his career. He is also producing a career-high 37% clip from deep this season, along with a 3.1 average in the assists column.
Kelly Oubre will obviously be a starting point of negotiations, but getting Nance should be a no-brainer for the Warriors. He is still under contract for the next couple of years, and his salary doesn’t break the bank. The question now lies on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ willingness to let go of the all-around big man.
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