Having cultivated a positive 4-1 record throughout preseason, the Golden State Warriors appear a distance away from considering any more trade maneuvers.
After trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul during the offseason, the Warriors are seemingly content on exploring the potential of their current roster as they seek a fifth NBA championship across the last decade.
Could a strong start to the season actually push the Golden State Warriors into another trade before the February deadline?
Golden State have gone further into a win-now approach over recent months, even if the early form of youngsters Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis has been impressive.
That quartet signifies that the Warriors haven’t necessarily gone all-in, with a plethora of young talent and future picks still in their possession. Speaking on a recent episode of the Warriors Plus Minus podcast, the Athletic’s Anthony Slater believes the franchise could be “more aggressive” in looking at a mid-season trade.
"“I will say this season with this group at this moment, with a new GM by the way in Mike Dunleavy who has shown a little bit more aggressiveness to shake some stuff up, I could see this being a more aggressive deadline team than it has been in the last few,” Slater said."
The Warriors have seldom made trades mid-season, but they actually did make a fairly significant one earlier this year. After a turbulent career at the franchise, former second overall pick James Wiseman was moved for Gary Payton II in a four-team trade on deadline day.
Following speculation regarding his future during the offseason, Kuminga’s strong start has seemingly secured his place as a key part of Golden State’s current and future plans. However, Slater pondered whether it could go the other way, with the 21-year-old’s early form also increasing his value around the league.
The former seventh overall pick led the team in scoring with at least 24 points in each of the first three preseason outings. He added 18 points and six rebounds in a starting role against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, before adding 13 points (4-6 shooting), six rebounds and five assists against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
Almost regardless of how the Warriors fortunes play out early in the season, there will be ongoing speculation on what their young players, future picks and Paul’s expiring contract could garner them in a trade.