Would/should the Warriors risk it all for Durant?

Preview: One more road game, then the trade deadline. Anything could happen!

Would you trade “everything of value” to reunite Kevin Durant with the Golden State Warriors? The Warriors have won three of their last four games, just got Draymond Green back, and should be seeing Jonathan Kuminga before too long. And yet all the chatter is centered around a potential trade - a big one, if the rumors are to be believed. And that question is central to these next couple of days before the trade deadline. What. To. Do.

The Warriors are on the road, finally breaking out of that extended home stand with a quick trip to visit the Utah Jazz. It could be the team’s last game with their current roster.

[Scary piano sounds]

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GAME DETAILS

WHO: Golden State Warriors (25-24) at Utah Jazz (11-37)

WHEN: Wednesday, February 5th, 2025; 6pm PST

WATCH: NBCSBA

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Breaking clipboards to keep your soul alive

As Golden State (and the rest of the league) watched from the wall, the NBA rearranged itself. Luka to the Lakers. De’Aaron Fox pushing his way to the Spurs to play alongside Victor Wembanyama in what should be one of the most fun pairings for quite a long time. It’s not all that difficult to assess the wallflower Warriors chances under the current status quo. This is a team on the bubble.

Per Anthony Slater (of course), the asking price for Durant is essentially a creepy hand rubbing ask of what do you got?

As of now, league sources say the Suns’ messaging about their willingness to trade Durant is different depending on the team.

In exploratory conversations, the Warriors have only been met with an exorbitant asking price in theoretical structures — essentially everything of future value — considering the tricky spot the Suns seem to find themselves. League sources say four-time All-Star forward Draymond Green, who has an established relationship with fellow Michigan State alum and Suns owner Mat Ishbia, is among the Warriors players Phoenix is known to covet.

I heard a term today at work that really bothers me: “minimum viable outcome.” Basically, a fully honest examination of the worst outcome that would be borderline unacceptable, but you'd take it. Bare minimum, what would you acceptbefore walking away? It’s a gross question. We should be aiming higher. Working harder. Identifying the obstacles and navigating them like the bunch of bad asses that we are. This franchise was supposedly light years ahead but is now lamely drifting across the waning years of Curry’s career. It’s compromise after compromise; hesitant to mortgage the future for short-term gains.

DAMNIT!

But I get it, the Warriors front office gets it as well. If you are already trotting down the path of the less than ideal, it’s a good question to ask yourself. What is the lowest threshold of acceptability here? We are already contingency planning, so let’s stare into the abyss.

Though it won’t go down easily with morale, a simple salary dump to duck the luxury tax is probably what the Warriors front office has on their pinterest board - or however they plan. In the off-season, the Warriors will have a bit more flexibility with the ability to sign and trade Kuminga, and a bit more information on their development projects - which could go either way. Moody, Podz, Kuminga, Post, and even Santos have shown flashes of rotation-quality (or better) performance.

In retrospect, it’s become more and more clear that Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson aren’t large enough off-season additions to fix all that ails the Warriors. The team has made some disappointedly ham-fisted attempts at trades. Calling everyone about everyone. Say what you will about this front office, they seem to have thoroughly assessed all of their options.

We would call this (politely) the “no thank you” pricing strategy in my business. It’s not so much that there isn’t a deal to be had, but moreso that the end result of these transactions probably doesn’t leave the team better off - not this year, and certainly not beyond. All the picks and all the good players for Durant? That’s a walk away price for me; and probably the Warriors as well.

The thing about Jimmy Butler is that I’m not sure he can gracefully lose here. After forcing his way out of multiple unfavorable situations, it’s all too easy to understand Golden State’s recalcitrance. Though it’s not clear if that’s precisely the concern from Golden State, the potential fit reportedly just isn’t there. Does this strengthen the spine, or is it an extra limb?

So maybe a marginal move. Maybe a little salary cut? Or… hear me out. Maybe doing nothing is the best option.

Competitive sports are weird. Progress isn’t linear, and the development of players is extremely hard to predict. But what if there’s still some version of that 12-3 team that opened the season so hot? Golden State has tools. Curry might be a step slower, the off nights a bit more frequent, but he’s still one of the greatest to ever play. Maybe some marginal in-house improvement could push the Warriors up into the middle playoff bracket.

Step one is to get a little bit angry. To reject the concept of lowest acceptable outcome.

“Coach broke a clipboard,” Moses Moody said after contributing 17 points in the win. “Took us 48 games to get the broken clipboard,” added Curry. “Thankfully he didn't cut himself this time. Few times he's done that.”

A little frustration, a little blood - might be exactly what is needed.

Prediction

The Jazz are the second-worst team in the NBA. They’re 1-9 over their last 10 games. If every game counts, then this is one is a must win (but it’s also fine if you do finger quotes when you say it).

More importantly, I don’t think the Warriors will sell the house to bring back Durant.