5 teams having mutual interest to trade players with Warriors amid roster overhaul
The Golden State Warriors are expected to be incredibly active at the trade deadline amid their struggles this season. With the team continuing to drop in the Western Conference standings and no end to its woes, the Feb. 8 deadline could decide the rest of its season. While it's unclear what changes will be made, something must be done.
According to reports, Golden State is allegedly willing to part ways with anyone besides Steph Curry, leading many to wonder what the future could bring. With Klay Thompson on an expiring deal and players like Andrew Wiggins on the chopping block, the Warriors have plenty of intriguing assets.
With that in mind, let's take a look at five franchises that could have a mutual interest in engaging with GSW on a trade.
5 potential teams who could work with the Warriors ahead of the trade deadline
#5 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have popped up as a team that could be involved in a trade before the deadline. Reports have indicated that the Heat are interested in Donovan Mitchell, but the Cavaliers are hesitant to include him in a potential deal.
When it comes to the Golden State Warriors, however, they could potentially put together a package intriguing enough to entice the Cavs. Although a deal seems unlikely right now, that could change between now and Feb. 8.
#4 LA Clippers
Although acquiring P.J. Tucker may not push the team from 12th place in the West to a championship contender, the 2021 NBA champion can fill several needs. In addition to giving their frontcourt more depth, Tucker also brings tenacious defense and veteran experience.
He's also one of the most effective baseline 3-point shooters, so his skills would be a good fit for Steve Kerr's offense. Should the Warriors and Clippers engage in a deal for Tucker, expect them to be secondary to trade talks for an All-Star.
#3 Atlanta Hawks
With the Atlanta Hawks potentially entering a rebuild, Dejounte Murray's name has come up as a potential trade target. Although the Warriors don't need another guard right now, that could change if they part ways with Klay Thompson.
In addition to Murray, if the Hawks enter a rebuild, the Warriors could look to acquire Clint Capela, giving them an offensive big man. The way things stand right now comes down to what the Hawks plan to do.
#2 Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls will likely look to move Zach LaVine at the trade deadline, given his struggles in Billy Donovan's offense. With the team notably seeing improvement in young players in LaVine's absence, it's likely only a matter of time before a deal is finalized.
The Warriors could decide to part ways with Andrew Wiggins and/or Klay Thompson, so a trade with the Bulls would be the perfect solution. The big question is whether Chicago is interested in any of the pieces Golden State is offering.
#1 Toronto Raptors
Pascal Siakam's name has continued to surface in trade discussions for several seasons. Whether this will be the year he and the Raptors finally part ways remains to be seen. However, if they do, the Warriors could be a perfect fit.
The move would also likely allow them to retain Klay Thompson if they wish to do so while bolstering their frontcourt, making the move a high-priority one. Whether a deal comes to fruition or not, only time will tell.
ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski believes the upcoming Feb. 8 trade deadline will be somewhat lackluster. But as we saw last season when the LA Lakers traded for Rui Hachimura, the move was the first domino to fall, with clubs around the league following suit.
It will be interesting to see if this year's trade deadline is the same or if teams stand pat. What's clear is that something needs to change for organizations like the Warriors, who currently sit outside of playoff contention.