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
“a couple weeks ago, the warriors had discussions regarding JJJ..” they pivoted less than a week ago during Giannis sweepstakes. maybe this….maybe even that….maybe
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.
Kerr’s staff has developed Gui Santos, Moody, Trayce Jackson Davis, Q Post, Pat Spencer, Podz, and Wil Richard the past 3 years. All have improved since they joined the team, and all have seen their roles fluctuate.
The key factor – they all allowed themselves to be coached. They didn’t pout when their role fluctuated.
Kuminga did. There’s a ceiling on how good you can be at anything when you don’t respond well to constructive criticism.
Good stuff, jacobjackson. Add Poole, Looney, and Draymond (it was Kerr who turned him into a starter) to the list as well. You’re making me think about it more. Maybe it’s unfair to Kerr and his staff to set the blame at 50/50 – more like 75/25 on Kuminga. I like Kerr’s comments after this mess finally came to an end.
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, I found it !! “Snaps” is good. Thanks, bro. I appreciate it.
I meant snaps as in how people applaud at a poetry slam
Got it. I’m a little slower than your average bear and not quite the sharpest knife in the drawer so thanks for the explanation.
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.
More than the Warriors had
Warriors were primed to make a big deal for months. They had among the most rotational pieces readily available to move and as many, or more, high draft picks readily available to move than more than half of the teams vying for top-20 standings position come April (10 west, 10 east). That’s what makes this trade deadline so disappointing. Now come summer, you’re gonna have two or three times as many teams all jockeying for the same top commodities on the trade market. Warriors were in probably the best position they’ve been in in several of the past Februarys to make a big splash – and all they could come up with was a dud. Dunleavy shoulda gone with the surest thing out there – if it was Memphis and JJJ, then so be it. Too many red flags developed over the course of the first half with Giannis and the Milwaukee organization. I’ve been praising Dunleavy throughout his early tenure as GM – but he screwed this one up pretty good. The franchise is now dangling over the cliff; it’s almost time to just say “to heck with it” and break it up entirely – start from scratch. Maybe Dunleavy and Lacob are resigned to the fact that’s gonna be the best step forward.
No
Lowkey KP might be a better fit anyways. He is taller and is a better rebounder than Jaren. He is a better shooter and has more of an offensive game. The price pint. Was a lot lower too. Jaren would’ve had to play the 5 and often gets in foul trouble too.
I like KP at the 5 with Green the 4, it won’t be enough this season but next season if Butler can return alright then it could be solid.
As they say: The best ability is availability.