NBA Trade Deadline: How Should Warriors Help Stephen Curry?

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

Every week, Mark Medina shares his thoughts and insights on the latest NBA topics for RG. In this installment, he gives his take on how the Golden State Warriors should manage the trade deadline.

As their generational star strives to collect more rings, the Golden State Warriors have a clear path on how to address the NBA trade deadline in hopes to maximize Stephen Curry’s championship window.

Do nothing.  

Don’t acquire a third star. Don’t expend young prospects and draft picks for a rotation player. Don’t even trade veteran players not named Curry and Draymond Green for other veterans that can address positional needs. The Warriors should emulate Peter Gibbons in “Office Space” and simply do nothing.

OK, nix the last part. If Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and the rest of the front office showed up late to the office, spaced out at their respective desks and completed only 15 minutes of real actual work leading into the trade deadline, Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob would fire them immediately. Curry, Green and Warriors coach Steve Kerr would no longer validate the organization’s belief that it shouldn’t make a deal that could mortgage its future.  

The Warriors’ front office should still try to upgrade their roster leading into the Feb. 8 trade deadline. They should still call and text opposing team’s GMs. They should still monitor the landscape in case they can upgrade their roster by either acquiring their missing championship puzzle piece or even by just upgrading on the margins.  

After all, the Warriors (22-22) enter Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers (24-18) in 11th place in the Western Conference despite the NBA’s all-time greatest shooter still playing at an All-Star caliber level. Of course, the Warriors should attempt to upgrade their roster. After trying to keep Curry’s championship window while developing their future in recent seasons, the Warriors should worry more about doing what it takes to win now.

But take a look at the current landscape, and it seems the Warriors and their fanbase will face a sobering reality. It appears there is not a realistic deal out there that could thrust the Warriors into title contention or even improve their playoff positioning this season.

The Warriors should not want to acquire Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler. His high salary and high maintenance personality would supersede the competitiveness and scoring that fueled two NBA Finals runs in Miami (2020, 2022).  

The Warriors should not have interest in New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. Following last season’s playoff shortcomings, Ingram could become as inconsistent a complementary scorer as Andrew Wiggins while lacking Wiggins’ defensive punch.  

The Warriors should pursue Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who has proven he can stay durable, score at a high level and adjust his role as either the first, second or third option. The Warriors should try to land Bulls center Nikola Vučević, who could relieve Green’s defensive responsibilities and shield his weaknesses.  

But can the Warriors bank on the Bulls actually trading either player? They haven’t made any moves leading into the past three trade deadlines amid their stubbornness to delay a rebuild. If the Bulls finally go that route, the Warriors should sacrifice some roster depth and draft picks to land either player. But they still need to keep fifth year forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose upside and two-way versatility remains too valuable.

The Warriors shouldn’t dismiss acquiring additional role players that can provide more consistency. The Warriors should be leery, however, of adding just one additional role player. Most of those moves only yield a few extra regular-season wins. Rarely does it affect a playoff series.  

It’s understandable for Warriors fans to feel anxious about the trade deadline. The Warriors’ front office has experienced plenty of hits and misses in recent years. But they have made each move with a clear thought process.  

Two years ago, the Warriors dealt an intriguing but inconsistent prospect (Jordan Poole) so they could land a more proven point guard (Chris Paul), escape second-apron penalties and eliminate the ongoing awkward tension with Green. Despite Paul’s uncertain health last season and his eventual free-agency departure to San Antonio, the Warriors still kept him leading into the trade deadline amid optimism he could help their playoff chances.

After seeing Klay Thompson struggle with his play, embrace a reduced role and accept a relative paycut, the Warriors allowed their valued All-Star to leave for Dallas last summer without receiving anything in return. But the Lakers declined to accept a sign-and-trade that would include Austin Reaves. The Clippers declined to accept a sign-and-trade with Paul George because the Warriors wouldn’t include Kuminga. The Jazz declined to trade All-Star Lauri Markkanen altogether. 

The Warriors should feel relieved none of these deals worked out, even if Brandin Podziemski hasn’t thrived in an elevated role and Buddy Hield has remained an inconsistent shooter. George has been injury prone. Markkannen has regressed. And the Warriors still have enough assets to make future deals.

Golden State flipped an injured forward (De’Anthony Melton) and three second-round picks to Brooklyn in December for guard that can provide more scoring and playmaking (Schroder). The fit surpringly hasn’t worked, but the Warriors still have the chance to trade any of their expiring contracts with Schroder, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney or Lindy Waters.  

Because of the stagnant NBA landscape, however, don’t be surprised if the Warriors do nothing. Warriors fans shouldn’t accept any organizational indecision, but they shouldn’t accept fake hustle, either. Therefore, it appears likely the Warriors’ best trade-deadline move will entail not making one at all.