Although team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic that the Warriors haven’t fully closed the door on the possibility of pursuing a trade for Mavericks big man Anthony Davis, Amick also hears from club sources that Golden State is “staunchly” opposed to the idea of trading Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green.
The Mavericks do have some interest in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, a league source tells Amick. But given that Golden State is operating right up against the second tax apron and Davis is earning $54MM+ this season, it would be nearly impossible to trade for the Warriors to acquire AD without an outgoing salary bigger than Kuminga’s $22.5MM.
Amick adds that it was the Mavericks, not the Warriors, who instigated discussions about the possibility of the two teams making a Davis trade, so it’s not as if Golden State was actively looking for a way to make it work.
Focusing on a handful of teams who look like they need to make a trade, Amick shares several more items of interest in his latest story for The Athletic. Here are more highlights:
- Following up on rumors linking Davis to the Hawks, Amick says sources in Atlanta have “pushed back hard” on the idea that the team would be willing to send 2024’s first overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, to the Mavericks in a deal for the veteran big man. Dallas is known to be seeking young prospects and expiring contracts in return for Davis, but Hawks officials remain bullish on Risacher’s long-term potential based on his second-half performance in 2024/25, Amick explains.
- The Hawks appear more open than ever to talking to teams about a potential Trae Young trade, but the veteran guard’s market seems to be limited, according to Amick, who suggests that Atlanta might need to wait until the summer to resolve Young’s situation. “Trae is an extremely difficult player to win at the highest level with,” one rival scout said, explaining why a market for the four-time All-Star hasn’t materialized.
- League sources who spoke to Amick added Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. to the growing list of potential trade targets on the Bucks‘ radar. Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk are among the other players who have been cited as possible options for Milwaukee.
- Despite a very slow start to the season, the Clippers have no plans to sell off veterans and would actually prefer to add an impact player to complement James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, league sources tell Amick. L.A. has been surging as of late, with five consecutive wins, and there have been no signs that Harden is seeking a change of scenery, Amick notes, adding that the Clippers still hope to maintain cap flexibility for the summer of 2027 and will be hesitant to take on any contracts that run beyond that.
Whoa, Dallas was the one pushing AD to GSW? That’s a new one.
I would trade Dray, Jim and Kuminga for better fits, there are plenty out there. Re-do all that money into 2 or 4 star-level players to accent Steph’s prime better. Jim is still superelite, he can bring back a Giannis if the Bucks want to still contend this year. Dray and Kuminga for Sabonis would be great too. Steph/Giannis/Sabonis would go crazy.
I think Jimmy’s agent might advise the Bucks that Jimmy would not be happy there and trading for him would be a bad idea.
Warriors could do a trade of Kuminga to Mavs without AD part of the trade. Afford or Washington is who the warriors would be targeting.
Washington is not trade eligible this season due to the timing of when he signed his extension. Maybe in the offseason when he’s done with his tank commandeering duties.
That is too bad Washington is the type of player the warriors need.
Happy New Year to all the writers, readers and commenters on this platform.
Why is trading Green never an option? Does he have compromising pictures of Joe Lacob? He’s been straight ass the last two season. He’s cooked. Mr. Triple-single with a terrible attitude.
I had his back til this season, but his turnovers this year have literally lost us at least 8 games all by himself. He is scoring better this year, but the defense and passing are in the toilet. He will argue the defense part is because Kerr refuses to play him as a strict 4, but Kerr plays him at the 5 for 75% of his playing time, and he gets cooked by a 7 foot 250+ lb guy.
Lacob has his favorites and will not trade them. Kuminga used to be one of his favorites is why they kept him so long.
ARC 2
Think about this: Draymond has publicly said he doesn’t want to play the 5 anymore, he lacks the size to go up against the big bodied guys, who own him on offense. Since saying that, Kerr has made him play extensive time at the 5 every single game. Right now I am watching him play the 5 with Moody at the 4, a losing combination. Almost completely ignoring his request. I think he will ask to be traded, because he and Kerr will eventually butt heads over this.
I am with you blame Kerr. Green can only play the 5 against a center under 6 10. Kerr stubbornly keeps doing it. Kerr will retire end of year.
Can’t blame Kerr, blame their GM for expecting a late lotto team of retirees to get into the playoffs.
They are horrible drafters now too.
Kerr is 100% to blame. GSW is drafting well, they drafted Post and Will Richard, Richard is legit a 1st rounder everyone passed on but is going to play 10+ years in this league.
It’s not the drafting, its Kerr and his telegraphed, nonstop use of smallball for 75% of the game. Oh big deal he changed his starting lineup, 6 mins in he goes small for almost all of the rest of the game. Cannot be expected to win with this idiotic tactic that the league knows how to counter.
Blaming warriors for drafting makes no sense they only had 2 top 10 picks in the last 10 years and 1 was from the worse drafting class ever during covid.
It is pretty simple why the Warriors don’t trade Draymond. It is called winning. They play better with him in the lineup.
Only if they don’t play him out of position. They need a center
Playing Draymond out of position had as much to do with accommodating Kuminga and Horford being injured. I said before the season began. They should have started Post. It worked last season Kuminga and Horford should come off the bench.
Once again Kerr goes with small ball and they lose 15 pt lead. TJD can’t be you tallest player on the court.
Stop already with the Anthony Davis nonsense.. no one is going to bail out the Mavs $60M/yr player who is hurt every other week.
This is a guy who couldn’t make his HS basketball team. Now he has wisdom about basketball nevof best PGs in the game. We can all agree Trae is a liability on defense. Only Rusillo sounds like one the geniuses on a sports board …. geeezz
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Hawks players reportedly ‘hate’ playing with untradable Trae Young
Dra may be on the downside of his career. But nobody does what he does for Warriors. And AD doesn’t want to play C. So forget that. Warriors only need a real center that can play in their system. Preferably a rim protector. Although Looez could wort. I doubt you can get him now.
Dray cant play the 5 anymore, the league has gotten bigger, he cant beat the bigger guys like he used to. His passing has also fallen off a cliff. Funnily enough he is being a lot better at scoring and offense this year.
The league was always big. Only the Warriors stay small. Dra was never a center Davey, you know that. Kerr plays him there. I agree with you. He should only he playing 4 now. He will last longer. His value to Warriors is big still. Not so much to other teams. Is what I’m saying.
Not true Al, the league went small when Steph, Russ and Harden won MVPs. It’s not like that anymore.
People, people, people, stop. Start thinking.
Why continue to complain about Kerr playing Draymond at the 5? Why continue to complain about Kerr not playing Kuminga? The only time the Warriors have been successful with Kuminga in the lineup is Dray at the 5. Draymond volunteered to give up his starting position to Kuminga. But, the results were bad.
Why continue to complain about the Warriors not trading Kuminga earlier in his career? Did anyone ever hear about salary matching in the NBA? A $9 million dollar salary isn’t going to get you much of a return.
lol Trae Young…..is a loser.