After missing out on superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James as part of a brutal offseason, the Golden State Warriors and their fans hardly needed another reminder of what could have been.
Yet that's just what they've got after another report on the Warriors' interest in Jaren Jackson Jr. prior to February's mid-season deadline, only for the Memphis Grizzlies to trade their former Defensive Player of the Year to the Utah Jazz.
Jaren Jackson Jr. report makes Warriors' offseason look worse
This is not the first time that Jackson's name has come up in relation to the Warriors, but ESPN's Anthony Slater used an appearance on The Hoop Collective to provide a reminder of the franchise missing on the 26-year-old just as they have with various big name players over the past seventh months and more broadly over the past few years.
“I'll give you an example of one that is probably talked about least in their last few years of like, you know, swings and misses, if you want to call them that. It's Jaren Jackson at the deadline. You know, they kind of sniffed around that," Slater said.
While this trade was discussed well before the start of the offseason, the miss on Jackson at the deadline still makes this summer's inactivity look worse as Golden State seek a return to the playoffs after finishing 10th in the Western Conference last season.
Had the Warriors traded for Jackson in February, there wouldn't have been anywhere near the same level of external pressure for the front office to make a big move this offseason. The James pursuit would have felt far more like a luxury, rather than boom-or-bust where the hopes of this upcoming season were riding on the decision of a 41-year-old. Then there's the fact James likely would have given greater consideration to Golden State had Jackson been on the team.
Jaren Jackson Jr. trade would have cost Warriors their own big name
It's interesting to consider how the Warriors would have traded for Jackson who made $35 million last season, but now begins a four-year, $205 million extension. That means the Warriors would have almost assuredly have needed to move on from Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green.
Given speculation that Golden State were willing to trade Green as part of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the positional overlap between he and Jackson, it's likely the four-time champion would have been the one on the move along with Jonathan Kuminga and draft capital.
The Warriors ultimately moved Kuminga and veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, leaving Butler and Green on expiring contracts this season where they could become trade candidates again.
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