Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Tuesday, December 10th.
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Warriors have “expressed interest” in several Nets players on the trade market, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
- Heat star Jimmy Butler has the Warriors as one of his three preferred trade destinations.
- Knockout Round for the NBA Cup begins Tuesday night.
As trade season approaches in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors appear increasingly likely to make a move. According to a recent report from ESPN, the team has already expressed interest in several players on the Brooklyn Nets, including forwards Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and guard Dennis Schroder.
Brooklyn, currently 10-14 and sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference, has been labeled a potential seller following the offseason trade of All-Star Mikal Bridges. With a focus on rebuilding, the Nets are reportedly open to exploring deals for several players.
Among the three players mentioned, Schroder seems the most practical target for Golden State. The veteran guard would fill the void left by guard De’Anthony Melton, who is sidelined for the season with a partially torn ACL.
Schroder has played well this season, averaging 18.6 points and 6.5 assists while shooting an impressive 38.5% from beyond the arc.
His $13 million contract also closely aligns with Melton’s $12.8 million expiring deal, making a potential trade more feasible (though Melton cannot be traded until December 15th).
Schroder isn’t the only name linked to the Warriors. ESPN also reports that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has listed Golden State as a preferred trade destination. Yet, Butler’s $48.7 million salary presents significant challenges, requiring the Warriors to part with multiple players in any potential trade. The team would still need to fill the roster with at least 14 players after obtaining Butler, per league rules, which would be complicated considering the team is hard capped at the first apron.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, December 10th:
Warriors News:
Shams Charania’s Inside Pass: Trade buzz on Butler, Ingram, rest of NBA | ESPN
The Nets have received trade interest and opened exploratory conversations around forwards Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Dennis Schroder, sources said. Brooklyn has amassed significant cap and asset flexibility — an NBA-high $60-plus million in salary cap space next summer and 12 first-round picks and 11 second-round picks eligible for trade — to position the franchise for the future. After trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks last summer, the Nets were looked at as a seller.
The Warriors are among the teams that have expressed interest in those three players, sources said. The 31-year-old Schroder is having a standout season on a $13 million salary, averaging 18.6 points and 6.5 assists.
Rival teams believe the Warriors are open to using injured guard De’Anthony Melton’s $12.8 million expiring salary along with draft incentives to make a potential deal for that salary range.
Report: Warriors among Butler’s three preferred trade destinations | NBC Sports Bay Area
One of the players the Warriors could target is Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, who they reportedly have had previous interest in.
Miami is open to listening to offers for Butler and making a deal if the proposal is right, Charania reported, citing league sources.
Charania also reported that Butler’s agent, Bernie Lee, has indicated in league circles that the six-time All-Star and Texas native would be “open” to a trade to the Warriors, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks
Why Gary Payton II relishes his Warriors role as ‘the Wrestler’ | San Francisco Chronicle
Despite his low scoring, Payton is not a liability on offense. As Curry explained Sunday, “He also has a strong IQ for where to be on offense. He gets to his spots quickly, we run a lot of pick and rolls, me and him, where he’s rolling in the pocket, getting downhill, he knows how to move the ball quick, set great screens, just make the next play.”
But it’s on defense where Payton makes his living. And as head coach Steve Kerr explained, “I think part of being a great defender is, you gotta bother people.”
Draymond Green’s dunk put the Wolves to bed — and maybe woke up the Warriors | The Athletic
The Warriors went eight deep. All eight logged at least 20 minutes. The roles were defined and clear. Players had time to “settle,” the word Hield used frequently. Urgency prompted Golden State to refine, trim the fat and concentrate its resources. The depth that fueled their hot start is still there, just not to be used all at once.
With simplification came clarity. And with clarity came production. And with production came the belief they can hold down the fort.
Santa Cruz Warriors beat the Rip City Remix behind Kevin Knox’s 23-point performance
Kevin Knox scored a team-high 23 points in the @GLeagueWarriors road win over the Remix! The Warriors had all five starters score in double digits, held the Remix to 15 points in the third quarter, and limited them to 24% shooting from beyond the arc.
Beekman: 18 PTS, 6 REB, 5… pic.twitter.com/e4jaXD4lz4
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 10, 2024
NBA News:
Trending Topics: Predicting Emirates NBA Cup winner | NBA
Dallas Mavericks. When weighing the potential champ of the Emirates NBA Cup, take stock of which of the remaining teams is peaking. And that team is the Mavericks, if only because they’re healthy and their two stars, Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, are doing high-level stuff. Winners of 11 of their last 12, this is the Dallas team that soared in the second half of last season and reached the NBA Finals, with a solid backcourt balanced by bigs (PJ Washington in particular). Oh, and the new ownership is from Las Vegas, the site of the championship … there’s also that omen.
Raptors’ Scottie Barnes exits vs. Knicks with ankle sprain | ESPN
Barnes was helped off the court by teammates before hopping to the locker room, unable to put weight on his right foot.
After the game, Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said initial X-rays on Barnes’ foot did not reveal a fracture.
Barnes was injured when he landed on Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns while attempting to block his shot in front of the rim. Barnes scored 15 points in 23 minutes before exiting.
Mavs’ Luka Doncic and Heats’ Tyler Herro have been named Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić and Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 7 of the 2024-25 season (Dec. 2-8). pic.twitter.com/nbuNbSbZ1x
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 9, 2024
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Player grades: Warriors vs. Wolves
Gary Payton II
27 minutes, 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 4-for-8 shooting, 0-for-2 threes, 0-for-1 free throws, 47.4% TS, +1
Payton was given the exciting task of entering the starting lineup and defending Anthony Edwards, since Wiggins was sidelined. Edwards got his points still, but that was largely due to making some incredibly-difficult shots, and having a great night from distance, where he went 5-for-9. Payton made life so difficult for the All-Star scorer, and was a big reason why Edwards had six turnovers.
GPII also provided a good amount of offense, and his defense only got better in the final minutes as Golden State was trying to put the game away … including the pivotal steal and outlet that led to a Buddy Hield dagger three.
Can’t ask for much better defense.
Grade: A
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