An interesting blockbuster trade proposal has the Golden State Warriors extending their championship window by acquiring an All-Star big man from a Western Conference rival.
The Golden State Warriors looked nothing like contenders during an up-and-down 2023-24 season. The 46-36 record was well off the franchise’s standards, and the season ended with an ugly blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings in the play-in tournament.
Stephen Curry is now 36 years of age. Draymond Green is 34, and fellow franchise icon Klay Thompson could leave Golden State this summer for greener pastures in free agency. So if the Dubs are to re-emerge as contenders in 2024-25, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. will have to pull off at least one major blockbuster move this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale proposed a fascinating trade idea that has the Golden State Warriors landing All-Star big man Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz:
“A package built around some combination of Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, multiple first-round picks and salary-matching fodder has the bones of a real offer. Will the Warriors be open to putting an ultra-aggressive bid for Markkanen, or anyone else, on the table? That’s a better question…
Markkanen just turned 27 in May. He most likely won’t be the face of a post-Stephen Curry Warriors squad. But he is young and talented enough to be a core member of it.
In the meantime, pairing Markkanen with Curry and Draymond juices the Warriors’ offense and relevance. He just wrapped his second season averaging north of 23 points per game while knocking down more than 55 percent of his twos and 39 percent of his threes.”
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Curry was the Warriors’ leading scorer with an average of 26.4 points per contest. The aforementioned Thompson was second with 17.9 PPG, followed by youngster Jonathan Kuminga (16.1 PPG).
The Golden State Warriors clearly need more scoring if they’re to contend again in a stacked Western Conference. Curry hasn’t slowed down at all, but he clearly needs more support, even if Thompson ends up re-signing with the Dubs.
Lauri Markkanen Is The Perfect Target For Golden State Warriors
Since joining the Jazz two years ago, Lauri Markkanen has emerged as an All-Star, averaging an impressive 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds over his first two seasons in Salt Lake City.
The Warriors could use a dominant big man like Markkanen to take some of the pressure off of Curry, Kuminga and Thompson (should he return). Look at how much the Boston Celtics improved this season after landing Kristaps Porzingis as a third scoring option to help Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Golden State may just be one or two pieces away from being an NBA Championship contender again in the West, so Markkanen should definitely be on their radar this offseason.
