Change is happening at the Golden State Warriors, and it’s begun with the announcement of Bob Myers’ departure after 11 years as General Manager. The franchise will now set about finding his replacement in a move that could shake at the core of a decade-long dynasty.
The Warriors didn’t have what it took to advance past the Western Conference Semifinals in 2023, with clear roster flaws seeing them eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Only time will tell how a new GM seeks to stamp their imprint on the franchise, but one thing is for sure — speculation will run rife after a disappointing postseason.
The Toronto Raptors remain the most reasonable trade partner for the Golden State Warriors should the teams be seeking a deal this summer.
If the new-look front office wishes to make a seismic shift to the Warriors’ roster, the Toronto Raptors continue to be a likely avenue as they go through their own crucial offseason with the future of core players in question.
One of those players, O.G. Anunoby, continues to have his name thrown around in trade discussions. Golden State’s interest in the 25-year-old forward is already well known, with the franchise having come hard for Anunoby at February’s trade deadline.
Now, in proposing a deal for every team in the league minus the NBA finalist Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz has suggested the Warriors send young guard Jordan Poole to Toronto as part of a deal for Anunoby. Here’s how it looks:
Golden State sorely missed more versatility in their forward personnel during the 2022-23 season, part of which came because Otto Porter Jr. left for the Raptors in free agency. They correct their forward depth in this deal, acquiring Anunoby and veteran Thaddeus Young. How much the latter can add to a genuine playoff rotation is now a question mark, but at the very least he’d provide some regular season depth that Golden State need.
Anunoby would provide a deadly defensive front court combination alongside Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, while Kevon Looney and Jonathan Kuminga would remain in the mix. The Warriors would lose their second and third-string point guards, so they would need to address that via free agency or in another trade.
The Raptors would hold significant interest in Poole were Fred VanVleet to leave in free agency. That would open an opportunity for him to go in and take a starting role where he’s proven more than capable in the absence of Stephen Curry in the past.
It’s difficult to see Toronto accepting any such deal without Kuminga, which was reportedly the sticking point at the deadline. But with just one guaranteed season left on Anunoby’s contract (player option in 2024-25), the longer they wait the less the Raptors will get in return.