NBA trade rumors continue to point in the direction of the Golden State Warriors adding a player or two ahead of the March 25 deadline. Most recently, the team has been linked to both Bradley Beal and Lonzo Ball.
With Golden State contending for a playoff spot, sans the injured Klay Thompson, the team’s ownership group is seemingly willing to do what it can to help improve the roster.
Read More: NBA power rankings: Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors making moves
Golden State Warriors willing to spend money at NBA trade deadline
“In this pandemic-shortened season, each team lost five home games, and the ones they are playing are mostly being played without crowds,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported Thursday. “Some teams, such as the Golden State Warriors — who took on Kelly Oubre Jr.’s salary after losing Klay Thompson for the season to a torn Achilles — have already shown a willingness to take on money, regardless of the NBA’s economic reality.”
This is important to note in that Bontemps made it clear in his report several teams are looking for ways to shed money given the economic downturn created by COVID-19.
Despite not having the richest ownership group in the Association, the likes of Peter Guber and Joe Lacob have been more than willing to spend money in Northern California.
That came to fruition when the Warriors traded for Kelly Oubre this past offseason using the Andre Iguodala trade exception. While Oubre is earning $14.38 million, Golden State paid out $82.4 million to acquire him due to the team being well over the luxury tax. That’s an insane total.
Related: If you’re a fan of the Warriors, check out their rumors, rankings, and news here
NBA trade rumors: Who might the Warriors target?
First off, Golden State has a $9.3 million disabled-player exception stemming from the Achilles injury Klay Thompson suffered in the lead up to the 2020-21 season. That could be used to take on a single player in a trade — a player who is in the final year of his contract. Among those bandied about, Detroit Pistons guard Derrick Rose makes the most sense with said disabled-player exception.
With that said, the above-mentioned exception is not the only avenue Golden State could pursue to upgrade its roster. NBA trade rumors have suggested that the team previously talked to the New Orleans Pelicans about an Oubre for Lonzo Ball swap. As noted above, Bradley Beal remains a major target. However, it’s looking more and more like the Washington Wizards are not going to trade him.
Boasting the Minnesota Timberwolves’ top-three protected pick in 2021 (unprotected in 2022), the Warriors have one of the top trade assets leading up the March 25 deadline. Whether the team wants to use it remains to be seen. It would have to be for a star power like Bradley Beal or Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine, the latter of whom has come up in NBA rumors as of late.
Read More: 5 star NBA players who could be traded next following James Harden blockbuster
There was previously some talk of Golden State trading rookie No. 2 pick James Wiseman. Despite a recent injury, the teenager has looked absolutely brilliant in his first few handful of games. There’s seemingly no way the Warriors move the young center.
In any event, it’s going to be interesting to hear more rumors regarding a potential Warriors trade. Whether something comes to fruition remains to be seen. What we do know is that the owners in San Francisco are still willing to spend despite the economic calamity created by COVID-19.