With the NBA trade season beginning to heat up, analysts are trying to figure out which teams will be looking to make some moves ahead of the February deadline. One team that people are keeping a close eye on is the Golden State Warriors.
Golden State has struggled to find any consistency this season. Injuries have played a part, as Gary Payton II suffered a torn calf muscle and in his second game back was injured again. Draymond Green being suspended twice hasn’t helped, either.
Green is in the midst of an indefinite suspension handed down by the NBA after he struck Phoenix Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. His first suspension was for placing Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a chokehold.
If there has been a silver lining to not having Green in the lineup it has been rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis getting playing time and producing. But, when Green does return, what will head coach Steve Kerr opt to do?
Removing players from the rotation is easier said than done, especially when they are performing well. That could lead to the Warriors looking to make a trade that consolidates their roster.
Despite being 6-4 without Green, the team’s defense has taken a nosedive. For them to reach their potential, they need Green on the court and playing at a high level. They could also use a shakeup on their roster, which has led Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer to suggest making a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Perhaps, the Warriors would also consider making calls for versatile forwards like Lauri Markkanen, Jerami Grant, and Jonathan Isaac. Of those three, Grant would likely be the most acquirable: Maybe CP3, Moody, and picks would have appeal to Portland?” O’Connor wrote.
Grant would certainly help the Warriors in several ways. He has proven capable of being a go-to scorer during his stops with the Detroit Pistons and Trail Blazers. He also has experience as a complimentary piece from his time with the Denver Nuggets, so he can fill several roles.
With Podziemski emerging as a viable option off the bench, Chris Paul may be more available than he was at the start of the season. Grant is someone who can play alongside Green in a new version of a Golden State death lineup with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Green. Or, he can spell him at power forward, providing the team with a much-needed offensive punch in the frontcourt.
Compared to the other players O’Connor mentioned, Lauri Markkanen and Jonathan Isaac, Grant is probably the best mix of cost-efficient and impactful. Markkanen will cost a ton to acquire and Isaac’s injury history makes him a risky target for a team looking to make a playoff push.
