The Golden State Warriors, who are in free fall, must make significant adjustments before the trade deadline on February 8. According to ESPN and The Athletic, every player except Steph Curry is available for trade.
Following an early playoff exit last season, first-year general manager Mike Dunleavy traded Jordan Poole’s four-year contract for Chris Paul’s expiring contract in order to gain some roster flexibility, allowing Golden State to transfer players this year and into the offseason. The idea is to identify strategies to maximize Curry’s remaining years as he approaches his 36th birthday in March
The last year of Paul’s four-year, $120 million contract is not guaranteed, while Klay Thompson’s five-year, $189 million contract expires this year. They could also consider releasing Andrew Wiggins from his four-year, $109 million contract. Draymond Green, who has been a constant source of frustration due to his antics and suspensions, may also see his four-year, $100 million contract shifted.
Selling clubs in trade negotiations are most likely interested in Golden State’s younger players, like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. In terms of picks, the Warriors’ protected 2024 first-round pick goes to the Portland Trail Blazers, but they own the picks in 2025, 2026, and 2027, which could be used in any transaction.
“The decision might be as simple for the Warriors as: ‘Among our big-money players, who do we like the least, who do we value the least, and we’re going to trade that player at the deadline,’ and start then to be able to build back a salary cap structure that gives you flexibility and maybe there’s one more run with Steph Curry,” Adrian Wojnarowski, an analyst for ESPN, said on NBA
The Warriors are expected to pay a $395.4 million bill this season, including payroll and luxury taxes, which is a high price for a club that is out of the playoff picture at 18-22. The front staff could see this trade deadline as an opportunity not just to improve this season, but also to position themselves to fall below the new second apron luxury tax threshold and keep freedom to develop the team over the coming year.