Ranking 4 lucrative trade packages for Warriors to deal Chris Paul for a star

Could the Warriors trade Chris Paul for Paul George?

The LA Clippers could face a difficult situation this summer. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are eligible for contract extensions this offseason. On the surface, the idea of the team handing four-year maximum contracts to either player given their history of injuries seems ludicrous, but as NBA analysts like Zach Lowe have discussed, if the Clippers are going to say no, they have to be prepared for the end result if that doesn’t go over well.

If the Clippers do end up listening to offers on Paul George, the Warriors can provide a trade package that offers enough win-now ammunition to make a deal possible. We first pitched this deal earlier this week, and we’ve separated out the players and picks moving between the two teams:

The Clippers here get a starting point guard, a better version of Terance Mann and a player in Jonathan Kuminga with a lot of upside. The Clippers can either use that injection of athleticism in their frontcourt or use him to add another win-now talent, with those two first-round picks as added ammunition.

For the Warriors, this is a gamble that (1) Kuminga doesn’t become an All-Star in the next couple of years, and (2) that Paul George stays healthy. Those are big ifs, but George’s injuries have seemed to be generally unconnected, and the Warriors have a lot of confidence in their medical staff.

If George stayed healthy, the Warriors would likely be co-favorites right up there with the Denver Nuggets. That’s the upside of a two-way player like Paul George joining the Warriors, fitting seamlessly in on offense and defense. This is a deal worth making, but the cost is certainly steep.