The Golden State Warriors’ woes went from bad to worse as they ended the year with a record of 15-17. They’re losing pace in the Western Conference playoff picture, sitting as the 11th seed, still lagging behind the Houston Rockets. Even though Golden State has never been big on mid-season trades under the Bob Myers era, Mike Dunleavy Jr. may need to start putting his fingerprints onto the squad before the twilight of Stephen Curry disappears and the team is left in a position to rebuild.
Curry is still an elite guard in the NBA, but the significant regression from Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins has been a major problem for the Warriors. The former champions may not be long for Golden State, as Dunleavy could make a defining move this winter by moving both for a package of two Bulls’ players that fill Golden State’s primary needs.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, 2026 First-Round Pick (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic
The Bulls have been staring down the barrel of a rebuild for the last two seasons and refused to do so. This trade allows them to remain slightly competitive while setting up for the future, as Green and Wiggins can fill crucial roles on the team right now while preparing the next generation to take over from them.
The Bulls Absorb Two Defense-Oriented Players
The Bulls have been one of the most average defensive teams of the season, notching a defensive rating of 115.5 that’s good for 14th in the league. Neither LaVine nor Vucevic helps the Bulls lock their opponents down. Wiggins and Green provide quite the opposite, as their defensive output is always solid enough to help a team be in a winning position.
Green has dealt with a host of off-court issues this season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. He would be the perfect on-court mentor for Patrick Williams, who has started shining this year after a few injury-plagued seasons. Wiggins has averaged 12.7 points and 4.4 rebounds but needs a new situation to regain his confidence. He’s looking uncomfortable on the court but it’s unclear if it’s because of the pressure on his shoulders or an athletic/skill regressions.
Given the affordable contracts both players are on, the Bulls would be very happy to get players like this trusting Coby White to play a bigger role on offense with DeMar DeRozan as the primary wing scorer. Draymond parting with the Warriors hurts more than anyone can explain, but a career resurgence in Chicago may be exactly what Green needs after his struggles in recent seasons.
The Warriors Address Two Major Concerns
One of the primary reasons behind the Warriors’ struggles this season has been their offensive execution outside of Stephen Curry. Curry is averaging 27.3 points this season, with the second-highest-scoring Warriors averaging 16.7 points on inefficient shooting. This hurts them in late-game situations, as it’s hard to trust anyone but Curry making big shots. The Warriors need more offensive firepower next to Curry.
Zach LaVine is the definition of offensive firepower. He’s a highly effective scorer whether it’s on the ball or off the ball. He averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in what’s been a down year before getting hurt, with many expecting him to sit out until he’s traded. Vucevic is a sensational get for the Warriors who are starting a second-round rookie at the center right now. He’s averaging 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds this season.
Vicevic’s soft scoring touch and aggressive rebounding will help the Warriors, who have been struggling to make Kevon Looney playable with an offensively redundant roster. This deal gives them an inside and outside scoring threat, even if it comes at the cost of a club legend like Draymond.
Can Both Teams Improve?
The Bulls and Warriors weren’t supposed to be comparable teams coming into the season. The Bulls were expected to be a part of the Eastern Conference dogfight, but the Warriors were expected to be a top-four seed and one of the league’s title contenders. Now, both teams are below .500 and need to shake their rosters up. This deal does it adequately for both teams.
The Bulls have a strong defensive ethos, personnel, and system within which Green and Wiggins would be natural fits. With Andre Drummond having game with 20 points and 20 rebounds off the bench, the Bulls could be willing to make this year’s win-now push without Vucevic. A rebuild is still on the way in Chicago, even with this season’s roster sitting at 15-19.
The Bulls could do a lot of damage with a defense that features Jevon Carter, Alex Caruso, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green. Though DeMar DeRozan isn’t the best defender, this team would be one of the most annoying to play against. The Warriors add a reliable second-scorer behind Curry in LaVine and an inside post threat like he’s never had with Vucevic. Thematically, it makes sense for Golden State, especially with them getting inconsistent production from Klay Thompson.
