Proposed eight-star trade prospects for the Golden State Warriors ranking

If there’s one thing that became apparent for the Golden State Warriors in a season that fell short of expectation, it’s the need for the franchise to add greater top-end talent next to 36-year-old superstar Stephen Curry.

With Curry still one of the league’s premier players, the Warriors owe it to him to provide the best possible chance at a fifth NBA championship. As such, the franchise will inevitably be linked to whomever star player becomes available this offseason.

Ranking eight proposed trade candidates that could become available for the Golden State Warriors over the coming months

Following Golden State’s disappointing exit in the Play-In Tournament, The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson outlined eight potential trade candidates as they seek to return to playoff and championship contention.

Thompson categorized these as (Andrew) ‘Wiggins 2.0’ and ‘star timeline’, but let’s dive deeper in ranking the eight in terms of their potential impact on the Warriors — with some consideration on contract value and cost of acquiring them.

8. Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine certainly fits the bill when it comes to Golden State needing more shot-creation outside Curry, with the Chicago Bulls’ guard having averaged over 20 points and nearly four assists for his career. The 29-year-old shoots over 46% from the floor and a healthy 38.2% from three-point range across his decade in the league, but there’s genuine question marks on his winning impact given he’s only ever played at total of four playoff games.

This is what makes LaVine a classic ‘Wiggins 2.0’ prospect, though his exorbitant contract — three years and nearly $140 million remaining — is the real stinger for any rival interested in acquiring him. He’s also built a fair injury history to be wary of, including playing just 25 games this season before undergoing foot surgery.

LaVine may be the most realistic target for Golden State on this list, but there’s a host of reasons for that. The combination of contract and injury history, along with the questionable fit in the Warrior system, means the franchise should have little interest.

7. Myles Turner

Once in a myriad of trade speculation, Myles Turner remains in Indiana and is now playing an integral part in a Pacers team that’s just reached the second-round of the playoffs. That in itself should put this in the unrealistic basket, with little chance that the 28-year-old gets moved anywhere let alone the Warriors.

Golden State should certainly have interest if Tuner were available. His combination of shooting and shot-blocking is something the franchise is desperately searching for, with the duo of he and Draymond Green sure to provide an excellent blend of both ends of the floor.

However, Turner isn’t a star by any means and while he’d be an upgrade, his addition would be no guarantee of the Warriors pushing up into the playoffs, let alone back into genuine championship contention. He’s never averaged more than 18 points per game, and perhaps his three-point shooting is a little overrated at a career 35.4%. A nice potential acquisition sure, but not one that’s overly realistic nor one that would have the sort of impact Golden State probably need.

6. DeMar DeRozan

A free agent coming off a three-year, $81.9 million deal, the Warriors would need to orchestrate a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan which in itself makes things complicated. The 34-year-old continues to defy age, having played a career-high 37.8 minutes per game this season while averaging 24 points and 5.3 assists.

Having someone like DeRozan could have made a world of difference for Golden State in their Play-In elimination against the Sacramento Kings, with Curry placed under all sorts of pressure amid little support.

DeRozan would certainly help in that aspect, particularly late in games where he’s made a living of knocking down clutch shots. His fit with the Warriors is far from perfect though, with the lack of three-point shooting potentially harming a starting lineup that already lacks that in the frontcourt. Given that, his age, and the reasonably hefty contract the franchise would have to pay, there’s certainly better options to look at.

5. Dejounte Murray

Dejounte Murray presents as a very similar on-court option to DeRozan — someone who does their best work in the mid-range while also being capable of acting as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker.

DeRozan may be the slightly better player right now, but age and defensive upside probably sways things into Murray’s favor. At 27 he should still be on the improve with the hope that within a better system he’d rediscover the defensive impact that saw him named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 2018.

Murray’s addition would create a crowded backcourt were Klay Thompson to re-sign, but the veteran sharpshooter has already tasted and reasonably succeeded in a bench role this season. A Murray trade is certainly worth exploring, though it’s not someone you’d give up the entire farm for.

4. Brandon Ingram

An injury to Zion Williamson put pay to the New Orleans Pelicans’ chances of advancing to the second-round of the playoffs, but nonetheless Brandon Ingram was disappointing under the weight of extra responsibility.

That could lead to the Pelicans exploring the idea of splitting up the Ingram/Williamson combination, particularly given both have proven themselves injury-prone over recent seasons. The issue with an Ingram trade is that the Pelicans would likely be looking to upgrade, while the Warriors would simply be offering Andrew Wiggins and young/future assets. Perhaps Wiggins would intrigue New Orleans as more of a three-and-D type to fit with Williamson, or maybe a third-team could get involved with another asset the Pelicans covet.

From an on-court perspective Ingram would fit the mould of adding another All-Star level scorer, though the spacing issues in the frontcourt would likely only worsen with him instead of Wiggins. A healthy Ingram would probably have more impact than Murray and he’s younger than DeRozan, but it’s still not a perfect upgrade by any means.

3. Paul George

This is where we get the ball rolling with players who could foreseeably push the Warriors back into championship aspirations. With the Clippers on the brink of elimination in their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, questions on George’s future are only heating up given he’s a free agent.

Again, like DeRozan, Golden State would need to orchestrate a sign-and-trade that would require them to give up significant assets. This is the part of the rankings where we need to bring up Jonathan Kuminga and whether the franchise would be willing to part ways with the exciting young forward? Every candidate previously mentioned and it should be a firm no, but someone of the level of George and it’s worthy of discussion.

George may be 34-years-old but he’s still an elite two-way player, having averaged 22.6 points and 1.5 steals during the regular season while shooting a career-high 41.3% from three-point range.

Putting the nine-time All-Star in the Wiggins spot would be a major upgrade without drastically shifting the way the Warriors want or need to play. There’d be risk in paying a max contract that could age poorly as the years progress, but it’s something Golden State should seriously explore if at all possible.

2. Lauri Markkanen

While Lauri Markkanen may not quite have resume of George just yet, his offensive s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁set could provide a similar impact after averaging 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds on 39.9% three-point shooting this season.

There’s also the matter of his age and contract that probably puts him above George in regard to preferred trade candidates. Markkanen is 26 and could foreseeably take the franchise forward out of the prime Curry years, while his incredibly team-friendly $18 million deal for next season would also mean the Warriors don’t need to match as much salary in a trade as they would with others on this list.

It makes little sense as to why the Jazz would actually trade Markkanen, yet the speculation persists and likely will into the offseason. Danny Ainge would certainly ask for the world, and yes that would include Kuminga as much as the Warriors would like to keep their budding star.

1. Kevin Durant

Durant is the only player here who lays claim to being a top 10 player in the league, and therefore it’s not rocket science to state he’d be the most impactful piece for the Warriors next season. Sure he’s 35-years-old, but he’s still one of the league’s most efficient offensive weapons who we know is a seamless fit with Golden State. Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and five assists this season, shooting an incredibly efficient 52.3% from the floor and 41.3% from three-point range.

There’s been no indication of the Phoenix Suns being willing to move Durant, though there have been reports of his displeasure at how he was used this season, and history tells us he’s not afraid of pushing towards a different destination if he sees fit.

While they might not be the all-conquering powerhouse they were during Durant’s first tenure, a reunion at the Warriors would likely catapult the franchise back towards the upper echelon of the Western Conference.