The Golden State Warriors, regardless of what happens this postseason, are going to be in a precarious situation moving forward.
How to improve their roster for next season is going to be the question at hand this offseason. It’s a question that will be a good problem for the Warriors as the eruption of Jordan Poole has the Dubs looking like long-term title contenders.
The Utah Jazz are crumbling, and if they look towards a new strategy to compete, the Warriors could be a team that jumps in and benefits from their collapse.
With limited cap space, improving may not be as easy as targeting high-profile free agents.
The Warriors may want to look towards teams heading for a rebuild or at least a reshuffling, which the Utah Jazz, assuming they lose their first-round series against the Mavericks, will do. The Jazz are down 3-2 to the Luke Doncic-led Mavs.
The Jazz and center Rudy Gobert were at one time a match made in heaven, but it doesn’t seem that way anymore as the big man isn’t quite utilized to his strength. Gobert could be far better used in either Golden State or Dallas.
The Warriors have a young center, James Wiseman. However, after missing the entire 2021-2022 season, the Dubs’ patience must surely be waning. The value on Gobert isn’t quite known, but Wiseman, Moses Moody, picks, and potentially another player could be enough.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is averaging just 5.4 shot attempts per game against Dallas. While he is scoring 12.4 points per game, almost half come from the free-throw line. He’s also ripping down 13.4 rebounds per game.
That’s a stark difference from his 7.7 field goal attempts per game in the regular season. He averaged 15.6 points and a league-high 14.7 rebounds per game. Gobert also shot the league’s highest percentage from the field.
As you can see, when the playoffs come around, Gobert’s use takes a hit, and that seems in part because of the Jazz’s struggles offensively. Gobert is -27 in the five games.
Gobert has 4 years left on his 5-year, $205 million extension, so any trade would undoubtedly have to include All-Star starter Andrew Wiggins as well. While the value isn’t known, Gobert is likely the odd man out if the Jazz opt to retool their roster after a first-round exit.
If they do, the Warriors should consider what a trade for the four-time All-NBA center could do for their short- and long-term future.