For their final NBA Finals run, the Warriors might combine Stephen Curry with a $186 million center.
After starting their season 12-3 and spending time as the top seed in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors have collapsed. They found early success running 12 or 13-man rotations in Steve Kerr’s system, but they have fallen to 16-16 and are now barely holding onto a Play-In Tournament spot.
As the Warriors try to remain afloat, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have grappled with their mortality. Both know they don’t have much time left in the NBA, and their primes are quickly coming to an end. Some have predicted that the Warriors will make a massive trade to go all-in on one last run.
“I predict that the Warriors will trade for a veteran superstar at some point in 2025,” wrote FanSided’s Michael Saenz on Sunday. “No matter what happens at this year’s trade deadline, the Warriors are a team that appears ready to make a big move via trade.”
The Warriors have been linked this season to Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and others in trade rumors, but with a glaring hole in the frontcourt, a trade for a more traditional center makes the most amount of sense.
As their in-state rival Sacramento Kings deal with the firing of a coach and speculation that star point guard De’Aaron Fox will ask to be traded, teams are circling hoping to capitalize on a rebuild in Sacramento. If the Kings indeed reset, the Warriors should go all-in on adding Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis is averaging 20.8 points and 13.6 rebounds this season to go with 6.1 assists. He has led the league in rebounds three times, has twice received MVP votes in Sacramento and is under contract through 2027-28.
If the Kings want to rebuild and the Warriors decide to go for one last ride, Golden State could offer Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and up to three first-round picks. The Kings have enough cap space to also take on Brandin Podziemski or Johnathan Kuminga instead if the Dubs want to hold onto their draft picks.
Kuminga, Payton II and Looney are all on expiring contracts, and the added addition of either Podziemski or draft capital would help propel a rebuild for the Kings. The Warriors, meanwhile, get one of the NBA’s best rebounders and someone who they can quickly build around once Curry and Green decide to hang them up, possibly with a fifth ring on their fists.