NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors pivot to Wizards center with Lauri Markkanen deal in jeopardy
The Golden State Warriors look to address their frontcourt depth and have targeted Jonas Valanciunas. The Warriors are still determined to get a deal with the Utah Jazz and acquire Lauri Markkanen after the departure of Klay Thompson. However, the team's unwillingness to give up some assets hinders the trade from happening.
The Jazz want to receive a promising player for Markkanen. They want the Warriors to include Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in a trade package. Unfortunately, Golden State has been unwilling to include either.
NBA Insider Sean Deveney has shared the Warriors' potential plans. According to Deveney, the California-based team could look to make a trade for the recently signed and traded Washington Wizards center, Valanciunas. According to the insider, should their ambitions to sign Markkanen fall through, the team intends to go after the Lithuanian big.
The team might look to make a trade at the Feb. 6 trade deadline next season.
Since the start of the offseason, the team has added a few players to address the departure of Thomspon. They've traded for Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield and signed De'Anthony Melton.
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There are other options for the Golden State Warriors to boost their depth. The only problem is their willingness to let go of a few valuable players. While there's a chance they could trade for Valanciunas at next season's trade deadline, the Warriors could explore other players.
One player who could be a target for the team would be Brandon Ingram. He's set to play the final year of his five-year, $158 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans next season. His future with the tea isn't certain and they could look to trade him soon.
On Aug. 2, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report released his list of players he believes will play for a different team in the upcoming season.
"Ingram is a tricky trade candidate, because he needs a new contract by next season and has arguments for demanding a huge one," Buckley wrote. "He is clearly worth a sizable investment, but he’s not a clear-cut candidate for a maximum contract (four years, $207.8 million on an extension now or five years and $269.1 million next summer)."
"He also might be worth more to other teams than he is to New Orleans, since he isn’t the high-volume shooter or shutdown stopper the Pelicans would prefer to have alongside Zion Williamson."
The Warriors could be perfect for Ingram as the team doesn't need a major overhaul. Rather, Golden State is searching for that one key player who can make them contenders again.