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With the disappointing starts to the season for both Al Horford and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors could test the trade market for a new big man, one who hopes to bring some more shooting and rim-protection to the roster.
There aren’t too many front-court players that would be both available in a trade and easy for the Warriors to make a move for, but one big man in particular stands out, should his current team choose to move away from him.
That would be Myles Turner of the Milwaukee Bucks. As of now, the franchise is hoping to keep star Giannis Antetokounmpo in town and happy, and through the first 30 games of the season, the offseason addition of Turner hasn’t been what they wanted. At the same time, the Bucks could be looking to add a point guard to play alongside Antetokounmpo.
In a blockbuster five-team deal outlined by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, Golden State would get a new big man and move away from Jonathan Kuminga. At the same time, Milwaukee would add a point guard, and the Cleveland Cavaliers would add wing depth and free up some of their salary cap.
Blockbuster Five-Team Trade Idea
Though it could be difficult for all five franchises to agree on a deal like this, here is the trade idea Pincus laid out, one that could seem risky for each team involved, but also bring upside to multiple title hopefuls that haven’t had the start to the season they expected.
They have had conversations with the Nets, Bulls, and Pelicans
Milwaukee Bucks get: Darius Garland (from Cavaliers), Jarrett Allen (from Cavaliers), Thomas Bryant (from Cavaliers), Terance Mann (from Nets), $2.3 million trade exception (Cole Anthony), $2.3 million trade exception (Amir Coffey)
Cleveland Cavaliers get: Jonathan Kuminga (from Warriors), Bobby Portis (from Bucks), 2027 protected first-rounder (from Warriors), 2031 protected first-rounder (from Bucks), $14.5 million trade exception (Darius Garland), $6.6 million trade exception (Jarrett Allen), $2.3 million trade exception (Thomas Bryant)
Golden State Warriors get: Myles Turner (from Bucks), Day’Ron Sharpe (from Nets), $2.2 million trade exception (Trayce Jackson-Davis)
Indiana Pacers get: Trayce Jackson-Davis (from Warriors)
Brooklyn Nets get: Kyle Kuzma (from Bucks), Cole Anthony (from Bucks), Amir Coffey (from Bucks), Al Horford (from Warriors), Buddy Hield (from Warriors), 2027 Utah Jazz second-rounder (from Pacers), 2028 second-rounder (from Cavaliers), 2030 conditional second-rounder (from Warriors), $5 million (from Warriors), $3 million (from Cavaliers), $6.3 million trade exception (Day’Ron Sharpe)
Milwaukee would get Garland to pair with the Greek Freak, while adding Allen as a solid Turner replacement. Cleveland would take the Kuminga contract and get some more financial flexibility, while Golden State would add Turner, in what would likely be the best upside move they can make based on the current trade market.
Why The Warriors Made This Trade
Specifically looking at this from a Warriors point of view, they would have to move on from Horford, who, at this point in his career, doesn’t look like the same impactful player that helped bring a title to the Boston Celtics two seasons ago. In exchange for Kuminga, Jackson-Davis, Hield, and a pick, they would bring in Turner and Sharpe, who could both significantly improve their shooting and paint defense.
Golden State would get off Kuminga’s extension, as he hasn’t been the same player from the first few weeks of the season, and his relationship with the franchise appears more fractured than ever before. Multiple sources have reported that they don’t intend to move off of Jimmy Butler or Green’s contracts, and with that, they are left relatively limited.
But still, replacing Kuminga and Horford with Turner could prove to be a strong move as the season goes on.
“With coach Steve Kerr acknowledging that the Warriors are a ‘fading dynasty,’ the team trades to rekindle its fire by landing a badly needed starting center, Turner, who can stretch the floor,” Pincus wrote. “The chance to add Turner inspires a change of course. Given his fit and the team’s need for a postseason spark, Golden State takes the plunge with Kuminga and a future first.”
The Warriors made this trade because it at least gives them a chance to elevate their floor in the last few years of Curry’s career. The roster this season has proved it isn’t worthy of competing for a title, and they’ll need to take a risk that title number five is in the cards for the ‘fading dynasty.’
Just like how the Bucks and Cavaliers would take a shot with a major trade like this to reinvigorate their roster, Golden State would do the same. Each team has underperformed this season, and none of its star players are getting any younger.