The Warriors made two trades prior to Thursday’s deadline, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis, then dealing Trayce Jackson-Davis to Toronto for the Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick. Porzingis and Giannis Antetokounmpo weren’t the only noteworthy big men Golden State had been eyeing, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN (Twitter video link).
“A couple weeks ago, the Warriors had some pretty extensive conversations with the Memphis Grizzlies about Jaren Jackson Jr.,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “ … I think the Warriors were talking about (trading) two first-round picks (for Jackson)…but then Giannis was maybe available and so they tabled those conversations because they needed those picks in the Giannis trade, and then Utah came in with three-first round picks (for Jackson).”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Golden State selected Kuminga seventh overall in the 2021 draft. In a statement to ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link), head coach Steve Kerr discussed the challenges Kuminga faced during his four-and-a-half years with the team. “It was a tough situation for everybody, given how raw he was when he got here and given we were still playing for championships,” Kerr said. “He needed the runway to make more mistakes. He needed the experience of being in the NBA and understanding what it was about. For him, it was very tough not being allowed to make those mistakes. For us as a staff, it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win. I think it’s as simple as that. Everybody liked him. I liked him. He’s a really good guy. Very personable. Well-liked in the locker room. Just a tough fit.”
- The Warriors were relieved to move on from the drama created by Kuminga’s tenure, writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. They’re also “somewhat optimistic” they’ll be able to revisit Giannis trade talks with the Bucks in the summer, according to Friedell.
- Jimmy Butler will undergo surgery to repair the torn ACL in his right knee on February 9, the team announced today (Twitter link via Friedell). The six-time All-Star forward suffered the injury on Jan. 19.
- Veteran forward/center Draymond Green will remain with the Warriors past the deadline, Slater confirms. The team thinks Porzingis — assuming he’s healthy — will be a good fit alongside Green in the frontcourt, Slater writes. Green was part of Golden State’s offer for Antetokounmpo, but there was never any momentum on a deal, Slater adds.
TLDR: Dubs wanted Giannis so bad that they missed on JJJ. Maybe even on Zubac if they had talks with the Clips.
SMH the worse part is saying they might go after him next year. Seriously give it up and find better players to go after that want to play for you.
Better than Giannis? Ain’ many dudes in the league that fit that criteria. They going after Jokìc and arguably SGA now?
Why is SGA I that sentence?
Are you asking me why the current MVP, last year’s finals MVP, the 23/24 MVP runner up and current MVP front runner is in that sentence?
That team might have been good enough this season too. Get JJJ playing right away, and it would only have costed Kuminga/Hield and one smaller salary to get it done. Would have still had Dray, maybe even get another player for some of the unused draft assets.
And 3 picks….
The article said 2 until UTH came in late. If they had just stuck with it they may have finished the deal first.
link to yardbarker.com
Warriors’ extended Jonathan Kuminga saga ends with a thud
It’s really too bad on Kuminga. I’m translating what Kerr said as basically, “I was unable to develop a player while trying to compete every night.” It’s a hard job, no doubt, but it’s a stain on his otherwise pristine coaching legacy.
I mean what the last 3 seasons have been the same. Get a brief hot start, slump away the advantage, and then fight for their playoff life for the whole rest of the season. On top of that pressure, and lack of room for error, Kuminga has had some very unfortunately timed injuries where he got hurt right when he was in rhythm and getting opportunities. Kumingas scoring has been very streaky where it takes him a while playing regularly to get going, but then each time he has gotten hurt and lost his shot completely when he returned.
Whatever.
Now they’re playing shoulda coulda woulda.
Let’s see if Porziņģis can get on the floor and make a little run here. Then draft very wisely in June and go from there.
Moody sucks
This we know
Play-in team
The Warriors blow
Unicorn sits
Curry too
Wasting his skillz
And Greymond chillz
“Next year,” We shout
Champions a-gain,
But failed drafts remind
There’ll be plenty of pain.
*snaps*
Is that good or bad?
Are you snapping your fingers to the beat of the rhyme.., or are you saying I’ve snapped under the pressure and gone cuckoo?
In either case, I’ll take it and it’s deserved.
Hey, theres a .5 percent chance at the number one pick after they lose in the play-in!
Warriors got what they had value to get…
They could never out bid for JJJ or Giannis…
Remind us all again what Utah gave up to get JJJ.