The trade Golden State Warriors need to make to address major roster issue
One could characterize the Golden State Warriors' 2023-24 season as a bizarre one to date -- while much of the offseason was predicated on what level the younger players could reach, the franchise has been held back by the form and ill-discipline of their veterans.
Between the early struggles of Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, along with the multiple and now indefinite suspension of Draymond Green, the Warriors left themselves in a hole at a 10-14 record.
They have responded to win five games in a row, yet that hasn't shifted one of the major issues with this roster. The young players stepping up has provided Golden State with serious depth, but they haven't got the absolute top-end star power, outside Stephen Curry, to be a legitimate contender at this stage.
The Golden State Warriors need to make a 2-for-1 or even 3-for-1 trade to add more star power to their roster
Having significant roster depth can be a major advantage -- it's allowed them to win five-straight even despite the absence of Green and Gary Payton II. It also comes with its disadvantages, having provided Steve Kerr with serious challenges on how to manage minutes and different lineups this season.
When fully healthy, Kerr will have 12 legitimate NBA-quality players to choose from. You can't go 12 deep in your rotation, particularly come playoff time. The question becomes who goes out? You couldn't possibly sit rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis on current form. Do one or both of Moses Moody and Payton fall out of the rotation?
Golden State is in a prime position to make a 2-for-1 or even 3-for-1 trade before the February 8 deadline. That would ideally address their need for more star power at the top of the roster, while also making rotation decisions much easier for Kerr.
During an episode of the Warriors Plus-Minus Podcast after their win over the Boston Celtics, The Athletic's Anthony Slater, Marcus Thompson and Tim Kawakami discussed the potential of a move to balance the Golden State roster.
"It's going to be a little tricky there, they could do a trade. They could trade 2-for-1", Kawakami said.
"That's what's really setting up there, Thompson responded. "Mike Dunleavy loves this right...all this helps Mike Dunleavy because they're going to have to move somebody.
"There is a layer of optimism coming below this team that I don't think we saw coming," Slater added while pointing to the positive production of the younger players.
While a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 trade is needed in theory, it's still a major risk in determining who exactly should be a part of the future. If the Warriors needed to move one of their young quartet -- Jonathan Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis -- who should they prioritize keeping?
Would Golden State really want to move Andrew Wiggins when he's at the lowest value point of the last two years? Would you prioritize keeping the Canadian over Chris Paul when the latter might be more reliable come playoff time?
If anything, the Warriors' recent winning-streak reinforces the need to make a trade. They have too many okay-to-good players who need minutes, but not enough greatness to be a genuine contender. Who they trade and who for is a completely different conversation altogether.