Things have not gone well for the Golden State Warriors thus far in the 2023-24 NBA regular season. Their loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night was their third in a row, dropping their record to 10-14.
Head coach Steve Kerr was looking to shake things up in his lineup, as he moved Andrew Wiggins to the second unit and started rookie Brandin Podziemski in his place. The results weren’t as positive as Kerr had hoped, as the Warriors lost 121-113.
It is hard to envision things getting better anytime soon for Golden State as they are also navigating an indefinite suspension for Draymond Green. He received the ban from the NBA after striking Phoenix Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during their game on Tuesday.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors Updates
Without Green, an already limited Warriors’ frontcourt is going to be stretched even thinner. That suspension, in part, is one reason why Michael Pina of The Ringer has suggested that the Warriors look to make a blockbuster trade ahead of the deadline in February.
Pina suggested Golden State make a run at Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz. Acquiring Markkanen, who made his first All-Star team last season, would help extend the championship window with Stephen Curry on the roster.
“Curry—a once-in-several-lifetimes talent whose prime should be maximized at all costs—gets a sidekick and his most talented teammate since Kevin Durant left, a dangerous pick-and-roll partner who stretches the floor and was born to thrive in Kerr’s motion offense. Crucially, the Warriors also get a lot bigger. Markkanen is a legit seven feet tall and can coexist on both ends with two of Looney, Green, and Saric. These lineups would bring the snarl they’re lacking,” Pina wrote.
What could a trade for Markkanen look like? Pina suggested the Warriors send Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and two unprotected first-round picks to Utah in exchange for their big man.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors Updates
A trade of that magnitude would signal that the Warriors are all-in on contending with Curry on the team, which should be the case anyway. They attempted to run a rebuild congruently while contending and the results haven’t been as fruitful as they would have hoped.
Golden State would be cashing in whatever assets they have remaining for Markkanen, who would be a nice fit in their lineup. He would provide some scoring punch in the frontcourt, something they are lacking and is versatile enough that he can be deployed in a number of different ways.
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