Golden State Warriors: 3 Options at trade deadline

By Tony Pesta | Jan 24, 2022

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Indiana Pacers during the overtime period of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on January 20, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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Golden State Warriors can make small-scale moves

If selling the farm is an unnecessary risk, trimming the fat for some small-scale upgrades is the best thing the Golden State Warriors can do at the trade deadline (other than doing nothing, but we’ll get there).

Trade Nemanja Bjelica and Damion Lee

Calling Nemanja Bjelica and Damion Lee “expendable” feels like a disservice to everything they have done this season. They are undoubtedly valuable assets who have played key roles in the Warriors’ early success.

Yet, I can talk myself into swapping Bjelica and Lee before I consider including names like Otto Porter, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Gary Payton II in a deal. If the Dubs go small, one of Lee or Bjelica should be the players dealt.

Who can they target? Flipping Lee for a veteran three-level scorer like Rodney Hood could work. The same goes for Maurice Harkless and Garrett Temple.

Including Kevon Looney could get them close to matching salary for Terrance Ross, who is head and shoulders above the other targets — but depleting the frontcourt rotation is tough to justify.

In reality, there just aren’t many cheap options out there for Golden State to pursue in small-scale moves. They’d be better off keeping Bjelica and Lee, as we will discuss in the last slide.

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