The Golden State Warriors are expected to be one of the more active teams ahead of the NBA trade deadline this year. Golden State is looking to bring in more firepower alongside star guard Steph Curry and Draymond Green to give themselves a better chance come playoff time.
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The Warriors believe that another title run is well within reach if they can complement the stars with more talent. Golden State has been rumored to be looking at the possibility of landing star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat.
But a trade for Butler could cost Golden State a ton of assets and he has had his own injury concerns of late. It's clear that the Warriors feel they need more scoring and this could have them turn towards the lowly Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference.
Washington has been a hot team around trade rumors this season, with the team potentially dangling a few assets. One name that could pique the interest of the Warriors is former Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma.
Here is what a deal could look like between the two teams:
Warriors receive: Forward Kyle Kuzma and center Jonas Valanciunas
Wizards receive: Forward Andrew Wiggins, center Kevon Looney, forward Lindy Waters III, a 2025 first-round draft pick, and a 2031 second-round draft pick
Why Golden State does this
The Warriors would land two dynamic players who could make them much more formidable going forward. Golden State lacks size and adding Valanciunas would certainly help that.
The big center has been playing very well for the Wizards this season and has been a hot name on the trade block. Valanciunas is also on a team-friendly deal, making around $10 million per season over the next couple of years.
Additionally, adding a player like Kuzma could help the scoring for this team. Kuzma brings defensive toughness and rebounding to the table. The veteran forward has stepped up his overall game in recent years and would bring more championship experience to the table.
Kuzma is also on a much more friendly deal than Wiggins, having his annual salary decrease in each of the next few years.
Why Washington does this
As for the Wizards, they land a forward in Wiggins who they can either choose to pair with guard Jordan Poole or they can flip him this offseason. Wiggins still has two more years remaining on his current deal, with a $30 million player option in the final season.
Wiggins is still under 30 years old and could give the Wizards an electric scoring wing. On the year, he is averaging 17.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The former No. 1 overall pick is also shooting 44.3 percent from beyond the 3-point line this year, currently a career-high for himself.
They would also land an extra draft pick for the loaded 2025 draft class as the Wizards look to fully rebuild their roster back up.
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