With no player taller than 6-foot-10, the Golden State Warriors are among the smallest teams in the NBA. That’s a problem, especially considering how dominant big men have been in the past few seasons. As the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches, though, the Warriors could be in for “big” changes.
On Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game on Friday, The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami said he has heard talk the Warriors may trade for an offensive-minded seven-footer.
Per FanDuel TV’s Shams Charania, “Everyone but Steph Curry” from the Warriors is available in a deal.
Golden State (17-20) ranks last in team points in the paint (43.9 PPG), a significant dip from what it averaged last season (47.3). The Warriors get little point production from centers Kevon Looney and rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis, who combine to average only 12.4 points.
While Jackson-Davis has shined in limited opportunities, he’s just a rookie and head coach Steve Kerr doesn’t want to play rookies.
The Warriors need more production from their big men, and if they’re not going to get it internally, acquiring an offensive-minded big could spark the team’s stagnant, inefficient offense.
Here are two big men, neither a seven-footer, who the Warriors could target:
Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls (18-21)
The 6-foot-10 Vucevic (16.7 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 3.4 APG) fits the bill for the Warriors as an offensive-minded center.
As the Bulls continue to tread around mediocrity, the likelihood of change within the organization remains. Chicago’s front office may soon decide to start over and rebuild with its young rising star, Coby White. If so, Vucevic would be one of the first players to be traded, as the 33-year-old center doesn’t fit a rebuilding timeline.
Vucevic would provide the Warriors with a reliable scorer in the low block, something they have not had since David Lee from 2010-15.
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (15-23)
As the Warriors and Raptors struggle, now is a good time for them to strike a deal with each other. Siakam (22.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG and five APG) is 6-foot-8, but he is an offensive-minded forward who can dominate in the paint.
“These teams have discussed Siakam in recent weeks,” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater wrote. “I’ve heard that on a more substantial level and saw Mike Dunleavy Jr. (Warriors GM) and Masai Ujiri (Raptors GM) in the tunnel [together before the game last week] having a drawn-out conversation.”
However, if Golden State wants to make that move, Jonathan Kuminga probably must be part of any deal. Parting with Kuminga is going to be difficult for Golden State.
Siakam has an expiring contract, so the Warriors would need reassurances from him and his team that if traded for that he would stay. If not, there likely won’t be a trade.
