Golden State Warriors: 5 Potential Low-Cost Trade Targets
Jan 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) stands during a break in action against the LA Clippers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors don’t need to make a trade at the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline, but for the sake of being thorough, here are five low-cost targets that might be of interest.
Even after their 73-win season ended in a 3-1 NBA Finals collapse last year, the Golden State Warriors should be plenty familiar with the phrase, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” — especially after somehow reeling in free agency’s biggest fish, Kevin Durant.
At 44-8, the Dubs own the NBA’s best record. They also boast the league’s best point differential (+13.2), best offense (114.0 points per 100 possessions) and best defense (101.3 points per 100 possessions). With four of the best 20 players in the league, the Warriors are elite by pretty much every measure.
To that end, no one could blame them if they stood pat at the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline. Their bench ranks second in plus/minus, they have very limited assets to trade and bringing in the wrong player could not only throw off the groove of the second unit, but mess with the chemistry of a championship-caliber team as well.
However, as we saw last summer when Golden State lured KD, the rich will always try to get richer. The Warriors can’t offer a future first round draft pick until 2019, but if they get creative, they could work out a deal for a player who’d bolster their bench.
In the interest of being thorough, here’s a look at five potential low-cost trade targets for the Golden State Warriors, what deals for those players might look like and why those hypothetical trade talks might fall through.
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) reacts after a score against the New York Knicks during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. T.J. McConnell
In T.J. McConnell‘s 21 games as a starter this season, the Philadelphia 76ers have posted an 11-10 record, as opposed to their 6-24 record in his 30 games coming off the bench. Though he’s only averaging 5.9 points, 6.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game on the season, he’s boosted those numbers to 8.6 points, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a starter.
To that end, the Sixers may not longer be interested in trading the NBA version of Rudy, especially since he’s on such a cheap contract, is on the books for another two seasons after this one and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to contribute (which will be useful when point forward Ben Simmons returns).
However, if the Warriors feel like adding another playmaker to the bench and are willing to throw in their 2019 first-rounder for him, Philly would have to at least think about it, right?
Giving up a first round pick for a player on a minimum contract is usually bad principle, but if Golden State offers its 2019 selection, there’s a good chance it won’t be very valuable, since the Warriors plan to re-sign Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant to keep their core intact with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for the foreseeable future.
Even as they approach their late 20s and early 30s, that’s a championship core, likely rendering their pick somewhere in the 25-30 range for the next few drafts. The Dubs are already sending this year’s first-rounder to the Utah Jazz, but they can afford to give up another if they decide McConnell is a quality piece worth acquiring.
The Warriors would add James Michael McAdoo to the equation to match salaries, shedding some unnecessary frontcourt depth with JaVale McGee playing so well and Kevon Looney (hopefully) preparing to tap into his potential.
McConnell would provide Golden State with an alternative to Ian Clark off the bench, since Clark is more of a scoring guard than a facilitator. The Sixers’ current starting point guard is a hard-working defender and notorious hustler who does all the little things to help his team win.
However, his 23.3 percent shooting from three-point range could make him an offensive liability on a team like the Warriors, and there’s no guarantee he’d be an upgrade over Ian Clark, who is shooting 38.5 percent from downtown.
With Shaun Livingston also spending some time at backup point guard, McConnell’s fit sounds better in theory than it’d be in actuality, especially since it’s time for Philadelphia to start building on all its draft picks, not add more to the pile.
Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha (25) loses control of the ball in front of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
4. Thabo Sefolosha
Though a groin injury has sidelined him for the last six games, Thabo Sefolosha is a defensively oriented veteran who could really help Golden State lockdown on the perimeter in a playoff series.
Though the 3-and-D label no longer applies to him since he converts only 32.9 percent from three-point range, the Atlanta Hawks wing has been better than in recent seasons, averaging 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 25.8 minutes per game.
The Warriors’ second unit wouldn’t need him to put up a bunch of points; they’d just need him to defend and help the Dubs protect leads when the starters need a quick breather. His $3.9 million comes off the books this summer too, making him a cheap rental without any long-term baggage.
Unfortunately, working out a deal where the Warriors don’t give up a key piece or a promising young player is hard to do, even to make room for a salary under $4 million.
Our first example has the Dubs sending James Michael McAdoo, rookie Damian Jones and veteran linchpin David West to Atlanta.
The Hawks would have little interest in West, who would be included to balance salaries out, but they’d be getting two quality frontcourt players to play behind Dwight Howard and/or possibly replace Paul Millsap if he leaves in free agency.
McAdoo is an unnecessary piece of frontcourt depth who’s still only 24 years old and has spent the last few seasons learning from a championship culture. Jones is a 21-year-old seven-footer who’s spent a grand total of 25 minutes on the court this season because of torn pectoral in his arm, but he could be a decent rotation player if given the proper playing time.
However, McAdoo, Jones and an aged veteran might not be enough of a return for Atlanta — even for a bench player like Sefolosha — if they want to make a playoff run. Another alternative would be giving up on Kevon Looney, Jones and West.
Looney is a 21-year-old player in his second year. He hardly plays in Golden State, but he has plenty of length and stretch-4 potential as long as he can stay healthy. He and Jones might be intriguing enough to get Atlanta to bite.
However, the Warriors are high on Looney’s potential, especially as a rebounder who can supply that high-powered offense with second chance opportunities. They haven’t gotten to see much of what Jones can do yet, and trading West after he took that free agency discount to pursue a championship would be downright heartless.
Another alternative that would work financially would be sending JaVale McGee and Kevon Looney to Atlanta.
However, JaVale McGee has been superb in limited minutes, posting 24.1 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per 36 minutes. Shipping off him and Looney for a bench wing would probably be more of a short-term AND long-term downgrade, especially since perimeter defense isn’t that big of a need at the moment.
Keeping McGee’s rim protection and Looney’s potential would make far more sense than trading for a 32-year-old wing who will hit free agency this summer, even if that particular package might interest the Hawks.
Golden State could try to involve a third team to try and bring Sefolosha aboard, but they’d still have to shed some youth in order to make room for his contract, and as you can see, working out that kind of deal comes with plenty of pitfalls.
Dec 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
3. Sean Kilpatrick
The Warriors’ bench is one of the stingiest in the league, but it’s still only averaging 29.8 points per game, which ranks 27th in the NBA. Defense is what will matter in the playoffs, but if the Dubs want to add some extra scoring to their second unit, Sean Kilpatrick is one avenue they could consider.
In his third NBA season, Kilpatrick has finally found his footing in the NBA, averaging 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game for the Brooklyn Nets. He’s only shooting 42 percent from the field, but he’s making respectable 35 percent of his attempts from three-point territory.
With Kilpatrick’s value the highest it’s ever been, a team that’s desperate for future first round picks like Brooklyn would happily take whatever it can get for a third-year player on a minimum contract through 2017-18.
The Warriors’ 2019 pick would probably be somewhere in the late 20s, but for a team that doesn’t own its own first-rounder until 2019, adding whatever it can makes sense. They’re already terrible with Kilpatrick, so losing him in service of a future first-rounder can wouldn’t really make matters that much worse.
To match salaries, the Nets would also get James Michael McAdoo. The Warriors, meanwhile, would have a player making less than $1 million for this season and next season, putting a solid 27-year-old bench scorer in a championship environment.
But if the Dubs aren’t sold on Kilpatrick’s ability to fulfill that role, since adjusting from the move to the NBA’s worst team to its best team would come with some turbulence, giving up a first-rounder for him might be a bit much, even if it’ll probably be at the end of the first round.
Jan 17, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives against Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
2. Jusuf Nurkic
Nikola Jokic‘s emergence has plopped backup center Jusuf Nurkic on the trade block, and where there’s a potential for a coup, the defending champs should at least be putting out feelers.
The Denver Nuggets may be reluctant to trade the Bosnian Bear to a team they could wind up facing in the first round of the playoffs, but Nurkic is wasting away on the borders of Michael Malone’s rotation and the Dubs could offer a few decent pieces in return.
The centerpiece would obviously be a 2019 first round draft pick, and from there, they could include several different players to appease the Nuggets. Could a JaVale McGee reunion be in the works?
The Warriors would be getting better long-term by acquiring the 22-year-old Nurkic, who still has another year left on his rookie contract, but they’d miss McGee’s rim protection and threat as a rim-runner on the offensive end during this year’s title run.
Another alternative that might make sense would be James Michael McAdoo (addressing the team’s depth at the 4), Ian Clark (since Emmanuel Mudiay has been demoted to bench duty and Jameer Nelson is getting up there in age) and the 2019 pick.
If the Nuggets aren’t interested in JMM, maybe they’d be willing to take a chance on Damian Jones as their new backup for Jokic, along with Clark for point guard insurance and the future first-rounder.
Or, if the Nuggets really want some depth in the frontcourt to pave the way for a potential trade involving Wilson Chandler (or Kenneth Faried or Danilo Gallinari), another possible deal could be Jones, JMM and the first round pick.
Giving up Clark would hurt for Golden State’s guard depth in the former scenario, but they’d be getting back a talented and motivated force in the middle. Though his numbers have dipped to 8.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, he’s only playing 18.1 minutes a night.
Put him on a smart team like Golden State that would know how to use him and he could be a capable backup big on a championship-caliber team — though they’d be hard-pressed to find enough room to sign him once his rookie contract expires in 2018.
However, the Nuggets may get better offers for Nurkic on the open market, and again, the Warriors may prefer to just ride out the trade deadline and the rest of the season with what they’ve got, especially since Nurkic isn’t much of a rim protector.
Jan 20, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) looks on against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
1. Nerlens Noel
Disclaimer: It’d be really hard for the Warriors to pull this off. Now that recent Jahlil Okafor trade rumors have surfaced, it appears the Philadelphia 76ers have realized trading him instead of Nerlens Noel makes far more sense to clear their center logjam.
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But if there’s any chance Noel is still available because of his declining numbers — 8.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG and 0.8 BPG in 18.0 MPG — Golden State should think about picking up the phone and making a few offers.
There are plenty of obstacles to overcome, aside from the fact that the Sixers may prefer to keep Noel over Okafor. With only one year and $4.4 million remaining on Noel’s salary, the Warriors would find it nearly impossible to retain the big man during his restricted free agency in the same summer where Curry, KD, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston may all be hitting the market.
Putting together a deal that would satisfy Philly is also a difficult endeavor, and if they’re not interested in a 2019 first-rounder being the centerpiece of the package, trade talks like these would be fruitless. In our first deal, the Warriors go all in by offering Zaza Pachulia, Ian Clark, James Michael McAdoo and the pick.
The Sixers get a veteran center who can come off the bench, add some point guard depth/youth with Clark, and try to find a place for JMM in the frontcourt.
Another alternative could be Pachulia, JMM, Damian Jones and the first-rounder.
Trading Pachulia would heartless after he took such a steep discount in free agency to provide the Warriors with a starting center, and it’s unlikely Philadelphia would be okay with adding that many frontcourt players when the whole point of trading Noel is to clear out the logjam at center.
That likely rules out another possible trade that works salary-wise, which would be Golden State sending JaVale McGee, JMM, Jones and the first-rounder for Noel.
Could the Warriors get away with another alternative like JaVale McGee, Clark, JMM and the first-rounder? Probably not.
Another young piece would need to be added if the Sixers had no interest in a veteran leader like Zaza, which leads us to the possible inclusion of Kevon Looney. A package of Looney, JMM and Clark might be more attractive, supplying youth and potential despite two of the players being bigs.
As you can see, the Warriors would have plenty of various trade offers they could make for Noel, but they all have their very obvious pitfalls. It would really come down to whether Philly would be okay with a 2019 first round pick being the crown jewel of a Noel trade.
There’s also this potential trade, where things get crazy with the Sixers including T.J. McConnell to replace Clark if the Dubs are willing to offer another first-rounder in 2021:
However, in almost every scenario, the Warriors would either be giving up an integral piece (Pachulia, McGee) or a young prospect (Looney, Jones) for an injury-prone big who has struggled to earn minutes for an 18-34 team.
Noel is only 22 years old and still has Defensive Player of the Year potential. People also shouldn’t forget that just last year, he averaged a very promising 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. If the Dubs could find a way to keep him with that star-studded core, they’d be absolutely fearsome for years to come.
But that’s a lot to give up for a player who has yet to tap into all that defensive potential, especially with the Warriors in the middle of a season where they expect to contend for a championship. It could be a potential coup if they got Noel and kept him healthy, but the Warriors would be one injury away from everything blowing up in their faces.
