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Steve Kerr Knows Warriors Can’t ‘Stand Pat’ At Trade Deadline

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr

The Golden State Warriors are under construction.

Or, at least, they should be. With the trade deadline’s clock winding down, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admits that his team is “not in a position to say ‘let’s stand pat’,” per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. He does believe that his current roster is good enough to be a playoff team and won’t ring the alarm if Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. doesn’t make a move before Feb. 6. Nevertheless, the basketball lifer could hardly have been any more clear about what he wants to see their front office do.

For Golden State the question isn’t whether they should make a trade but what trade they should make.

Steve Kerr Knows Warriors Can’t ‘Stand Pat’ At Trade Deadline

The Warriors have been linked to several upper echelon players.

To everyone’s surprise, they called the Los Angeles Lakers about league legend LeBron James ahead of last season’s trade deadline. In the offseason, James’s name was still being mentioned in connection to the Warriors, especially as he was thriving alongside Stephen Curry on Team USA.

However, Golden State’s focus was more so on Paul George and Jimmy Butler, who were embroiled in contract disputes. George resolved his situation by inking a massive deal with the Philadelphia 76ers but Jimmy Butler’s situation stayed the same. As a result, the Warriors were and perhaps still are regarded as a potential suitor for the disgruntled star.

Running With The Bulls

If the calculus on Butler has changed, it’s likely because his behavior has raised eyebrows.

Zach LaVine

In fact, Chicago Bulls veteran Zach LaVine –who has displayed more maturity and professionalism this season —is regarded as a safer option. With that being said, LaVine has always made more sense in terms of his fit on paper. He doesn’t definitely offer as much help as Butler defensively but is excellent from outside. With prolific three-point shooting a Warriors staple, there’s not much more they could ask for.

The issue is that LaVine’s albatross contract would likely lead to the Warriors having to trade Andrew Wiggins. Not that Golden State is against the idea of moving the former No. 1 pick. The cost-benefit analysis just looks a little different when talking about trading him for LaVine instead of Butler. Though LaVine looks like a match for the Warriors offensively, they’ve been relying on Wiggins for defense as much as offense. Thus, they may consider it more feasible to move him for Butler, another two-end player.

Nikola Vucevic

If Golden State were to trade for anyone on the Bulls roster, Nikola Vucevic seems like the most likely candidate.

Not only does Vucevic make less than half of LaVine’s salary, he plays a role that the Warriors find particularly useful. At 6-foot-10, he’s shooting over 39 percent from three this season. As a spacing big, he could help them counter the way that opposing teams are guarding Curry. In theory, he could also help clear the lane for Jonathan Kuminga when he returns, especially as teams are unlikely to guard him with smaller players.

To this point, Golden State hasn’t been willing to meet the Bulls’ demand for Vucevic; a first-round pick.

However, given Kerr’s latest comments, they just might.

Alternative Trade Options

If the Warriors are going to trade a first-rounder for a big man, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner might be the better option. He’s more than five years younger, more reliable beyond the arc, and a better shot-blocker.

If they’re set on holding onto their firsts, Utah Jazz forward-center John Collins is a stretch-big who’ll presumably have a lower price tag. Bulls forward-center Jalen Smith and New York Knicks center Precious Achiuwa could fit the bill as well.

© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

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