I hate B/R articles, but this one had me thinking “there goes our size issue” while also keeping Podz and TJD? I’m all about it:
Trade idea: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 2nd round pick, a 2028 second-round pick (via ATL) and a 2031 first-round pick swap to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler
The Warriors have a deep roster, just like they had a deep roster this past season. If they're going to dabble in the trade market, they need to bring back a difference-maker.
This would nearly deplete the Dubs' asset collection, but you could argue a player of Markkanen's caliber is worth such a splurge. He'd be the most skilled costar Stephen Curry has had since Kevin Durant skipped town, as Markkanen is a scoring 7-footer with a fiery outside shot, a plethora of post moves to punish switches and enough defensive utility to be a positive presence on both ends.
If Golden State still wasn't fully convinced Markkanen is worth the sacrifice of Kuminga, adding Kessler to the exchange might get a handshake done. A team that struggled with a lack of size and force around the basket could see real value in adding a 22-year-old 7-footer with an even 69.0 career field-goal percentage and per-36-minute average of 3.7 blocks.
I think this would be great, but Ainge almost certainly wants really good first round picks more than he does good role players. Sending his 27 year old 7 footer to a team that then becomes a contender isn't what he wants. He wants to send Markkanen to a crappy team that stays crappy when he gets him. That probably isn't us.
I would strongly consider that trade. If it boils down to 2 firsts, JK and Moody for Lauri and Walker Kessler, I think that’s just positive value for the warriors.
So... we'dhave Dray, Markkanen, TJD, Kessler, and SloMo? That's a lot of bigs... and most of the "non-shooting" big variety... no bueno, as is the rule for B/R articles. This trade leaves us with Lindy Waters & Gui Santos in the wing rotation... though I suppose it frees up $10M in cap space that could be used on... the scraps of the FA market (Saddiq Bey? Malik Beasley?).
I think a few of the Summer League players are ready for the NBA. I would love to experiment with E. Thompson, Bolden, Plowden, & The Latvian. Getting Markkanen and Kessler would be insanely good.
I know GP2 & TJD have spoiled us, but I really don't want to count on summer league wings to avoid #wastingcurrysprime. And that's on top of Wiggins being our ONLY capable large wing defender (Melton is 6'2" and very much a smaller wing).
Sure... but both of those guys are offensively challenged, and already in the "Big" rotation, so we're just leaning into more bigs on the floor. From a minutes distribution, you'd want 25 for Dray, and 20 each for TJD/Kessler/SloMo. That's 85 minutes, so you're playing 2 non-shooting bigs for all but 11 minutes of the game. If this was 1999 and we were competing with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, ok... but this is 2024.
Melton is a 6'2" 1/2 guard. He has a good wingspan and might defend some 3s but I'd say he's closer to Steph and Podz than Wiggins, Hield, Waters, and Santos.
I believe in Dray Wiggins and SloMo’s shooting to come back!
Plus there’s our 7’ rookie Post’s unrealistic expectation of his up and coming stellar shooting! He can get “big” minutes if he proves to have a steady 3pt shot
But Ultimately, wouldn’t our two superstar scorers + Wiggins Hield and Podz take the bulk of the scoring on a nightly basis?
Gotta believe that the young fellas finally get right. On the plus side, in this scenario, Dubz would still have a very good if not great bench, so Kerr would definitely have the ability to deploy his minutes conservation tactics like he did with Steph all those years.
JP, who never even heard of defense, was Steph's most skilled costar since KD? I posit that Klay, even post-injury was more skilled than JP. Physically limited yes, but more skilled.
He played well tonight, but has played selfish on earlier games, at least to my eye… he looked really good tonight and had some great unselfish plays tonight.
Invariant: every time SAC plays us, be it the Kings, the g-leaguers, the firefighters or the cheerleaders, they invariably jump on the deck 'con il coltello fra i denti', like their lives and their beloved ones' depended on it.
You could make a pretty easy case Steph has been the best player in the floor tonight. AD’s been great and Ant has had some moments. I mean, the team is loaded, but those three stand out the most tonight.
Awesome. Thank you! ❤️
I hate B/R articles, but this one had me thinking “there goes our size issue” while also keeping Podz and TJD? I’m all about it:
Trade idea: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2026 2nd round pick, a 2028 second-round pick (via ATL) and a 2031 first-round pick swap to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler
The Warriors have a deep roster, just like they had a deep roster this past season. If they're going to dabble in the trade market, they need to bring back a difference-maker.
This would nearly deplete the Dubs' asset collection, but you could argue a player of Markkanen's caliber is worth such a splurge. He'd be the most skilled costar Stephen Curry has had since Kevin Durant skipped town, as Markkanen is a scoring 7-footer with a fiery outside shot, a plethora of post moves to punish switches and enough defensive utility to be a positive presence on both ends.
If Golden State still wasn't fully convinced Markkanen is worth the sacrifice of Kuminga, adding Kessler to the exchange might get a handshake done. A team that struggled with a lack of size and force around the basket could see real value in adding a 22-year-old 7-footer with an even 69.0 career field-goal percentage and per-36-minute average of 3.7 blocks.
I think this would be great, but Ainge almost certainly wants really good first round picks more than he does good role players. Sending his 27 year old 7 footer to a team that then becomes a contender isn't what he wants. He wants to send Markkanen to a crappy team that stays crappy when he gets him. That probably isn't us.
It’s likely take more to sweeten the deal. Which I’m not sure if we should at that point
Getting a 3rd team involved would seemingly be mandatory
Now we're starting to think out of the box! Can't imagine Utah doing this, though.
I would strongly consider that trade. If it boils down to 2 firsts, JK and Moody for Lauri and Walker Kessler, I think that’s just positive value for the warriors.
2 firsts, JK, and Moody is probably a player or two and two picks less than Ainge would take.
That's a very Dub-friendly exchange. Two relatively proven big men for two guys still finding their way in the NBA, plus a couple of picks?
One more 1st likely gets it done tho. Which is a helluva lot
JK is plenty proven, with much room to grow. Thats why he’s a good trade piece in general
So... we'dhave Dray, Markkanen, TJD, Kessler, and SloMo? That's a lot of bigs... and most of the "non-shooting" big variety... no bueno, as is the rule for B/R articles. This trade leaves us with Lindy Waters & Gui Santos in the wing rotation... though I suppose it frees up $10M in cap space that could be used on... the scraps of the FA market (Saddiq Bey? Malik Beasley?).
Would leave:
PG: Steph/Podz
Wing: Melton/Wiggins/Hield/Waters/Santos
Big: Dray/Markkanen/TJD/Kessler/SloMo
I think a few of the Summer League players are ready for the NBA. I would love to experiment with E. Thompson, Bolden, Plowden, & The Latvian. Getting Markkanen and Kessler would be insanely good.
I know GP2 & TJD have spoiled us, but I really don't want to count on summer league wings to avoid #wastingcurrysprime. And that's on top of Wiggins being our ONLY capable large wing defender (Melton is 6'2" and very much a smaller wing).
Draymond can guard big wings, especially with another rim protector out there with him
SloMo also can (at least situationally) be an effective wing defender, he did great on Doncic in the playoffs
Sure... but both of those guys are offensively challenged, and already in the "Big" rotation, so we're just leaning into more bigs on the floor. From a minutes distribution, you'd want 25 for Dray, and 20 each for TJD/Kessler/SloMo. That's 85 minutes, so you're playing 2 non-shooting bigs for all but 11 minutes of the game. If this was 1999 and we were competing with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, ok... but this is 2024.
Melton is a 6'2" 1/2 guard. He has a good wingspan and might defend some 3s but I'd say he's closer to Steph and Podz than Wiggins, Hield, Waters, and Santos.
I’d be cool with Beasley. He could pitch in some decent nightly points consistently. Bey too
I believe in Dray Wiggins and SloMo’s shooting to come back!
Plus there’s our 7’ rookie Post’s unrealistic expectation of his up and coming stellar shooting! He can get “big” minutes if he proves to have a steady 3pt shot
But Ultimately, wouldn’t our two superstar scorers + Wiggins Hield and Podz take the bulk of the scoring on a nightly basis?
The question as always is does Kessler survive the playoffs? Is he a 16 game player? Is Lauri?
Let's find out!
No kidding…both unproven past 70 games 🤦🏼
Gotta believe that the young fellas finally get right. On the plus side, in this scenario, Dubz would still have a very good if not great bench, so Kerr would definitely have the ability to deploy his minutes conservation tactics like he did with Steph all those years.
And plus…Celebrini got this!
We Believe…in Health!
This matches salary wise too I think
JP, who never even heard of defense, was Steph's most skilled costar since KD? I posit that Klay, even post-injury was more skilled than JP. Physically limited yes, but more skilled.
I like Knox, he's a survivor and has quite a chip on the shoulder. I hope he somehow makes the roster (in January maybe)
He played well tonight, but has played selfish on earlier games, at least to my eye… he looked really good tonight and had some great unselfish plays tonight.
The CalClax trophy is huge, and quite a bit AndyWarhol-ish.
Invariant: every time SAC plays us, be it the Kings, the g-leaguers, the firefighters or the cheerleaders, they invariably jump on the deck 'con il coltello fra i denti', like their lives and their beloved ones' depended on it.
I'm trying to picture the Kings cheerleaders jumping on deck with knives between their teeth. It could be kinda cute I guess.
That was fun!
After watching that exhibition, the international fans really got robbed of witnessing prime Steph in the Olympics.
We all did. Luckily, he’s not that far off still
Steph saying hi to GP2
Neither team went all out, but as expected the US potential is huge.
Imagine a lineup that needs a stop and they have Dray, AD and Wemby at the 3-4-5 lol
Odds are those 3 will never all be in the same game. Ever. Not all star, not Olympics.
Harry Potter on Team US?
Who the fack are half the guys on the floor for the US right now?
Just what I was wondering. Roster filler for the friendlies I suppose, they aren’t on the Olympic squad.
They theoretically do have the personnel to run the Warrior offense, just with way more talented players.
Curry as Curry
Booker as Klay
LeBron as Draymond
Tatum as Wiggins
AD as TJD
They don't have the time to really drill the system though. Also maybe Bam is the more TJD-y player? It's not Embiid though lol.
Instead of Tatum as Wiggins, they could have KD as KD. 😊 Yeah, it’s not pure Kerrball but it is peak dynasty.
Maybe Steph can train them into it. He ran to the corner and pushed Lebron into screening for him while receiving the pass from AD.
No Looney?
“Steph curry solid outing, LeBron James great overall performance” lol sure dude
Gus Johnson crediting D'Antoni when he should be crediting Don Nelson
You could make a pretty easy case Steph has been the best player in the floor tonight. AD’s been great and Ant has had some moments. I mean, the team is loaded, but those three stand out the most tonight.
Curry is the best player on the floor imo, when the defense can't just solely focus on him it's pretty unfair
Sticking him in the corner a lot in this last stint is limiting his impact. Think he’s a little tired though. And the old guys sub out.