The Golden State Warriors are in desperate need of a starting quality center as they begin to explore trade possibilities involving the absent Kristaps Porzingis.
Myles Turner has already emerged as a prominent option given their previous interest, similar salary and skillset, and potential availability in Milwaukee, but the Warriors should be really turning their attention to the Orlando Magic and their starting center Wendell Carter Jr.
Warriors should explore Wendell Carter Jr. trade rather than Myles Turner
Carter makes $18.1 million on the first of a three-year deal, meaning he makes less than the $20 million the Warriors gave to Porzingis on his extension prior to free agency. That’s important because Turner makes over $6 million more than Porzingis, forcing Golden State into adding another salary if they wanted to make a deal with Milwaukee.
The other crucial aspect is the Magic are facing a financial crunch that they themselves have acknowledged, having opted against giving an extension to young guard Anthony Black which leaves the former top 10 pick headed to restricted free agency.
Orlando will need to make a roster decision at some point in the next 12 months, and a Porzingis-Carter trade could offer them a path out from the financial strain they’re about to face, while delivering the Warriors a reasonable starting center that can immediately fill their biggest need.
The only issue is the Magic are a playoff-contending team, and as such they won’t want to simply lose their starting center for a player who may never play professional basketball again. Golden State would likely need a third team involved to take Porzingis’ contract and draft capital, while Orlando get an alternative big man on an expiring contract.
Warriors have had previous interest in Wendell Carter Jr.
Golden State were linked to Carter once upon a time, albeit way back prior to the 2020 NBA Draft where there were suggestions they could trade the second overall pick to the Chicago Bulls for Carter and the fourth overall selection.
Carter wouldn’t be a game-changing addition necessarily, but he’s a solid starting calibre big man in the middle of his prime at 27-years-old — an age demographic the Warriors completely lack on an aging, veteran roster/
Carter had an impressive first game of the season against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, recording 22 points and seven rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor in the Magic's 132-125 defeat.
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