Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17).
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17).
The Golden State Warriors suffered a frustrating 103-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler delivered strong individual performances but the team’s offense struggled to consistently finish.
Curry led the Warriors with 27 points, while Butler added 24 points in a tightly contested game where Golden State failed to convert enough shots when it mattered most. The team shot an inefficient 38% from the field and just 24.4% from three-point range, numbers that undercut their ability to sustain offensive pressure throughout. Even with late attempts to climb back into the game, the Warriors couldn’t overcome key misses and offensive inconsistency.
Monday’s game continued a season-long trend for Golden State: a lack of reliable shot-making outside of Curry and Butler. As a result, the absence of a dependable third scoring option has been a point of chatter as the Warriors look toward the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17). — Source: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
One emerging name connected to Golden State’s trade conversations is Michael Porter Jr., now with the Brooklyn Nets in his first season after seven years with the Denver Nuggets, where he was part of the 2023 championship team.
In a recent report, ESPN NBA analyst Kevin Pelton recently outlined Porter as a fitting target for the Warriors given his fit and contract situation, noting that Porter’s $38 million salary could be added without moving Draymond Green, though it would likely require including Moses Moody in a deal. Pelton argued that while Porter isn’t as big of a name as some stars typically linked to Golden State, he “might be a better fit,” providing a clear starting role and scoring punch.
Porter offers elite shooting upside and size that could mesh well with Golden State’s style. This season he is averaging 25.9 points per game while shooting 40.8% from three, a level of long-range efficiency that would supply the Warriors with another knockdown shooter beside Curry.
According to Pelton, adding a 6-foot-10 scorer who can slide into a Harrison Barnes, Kevin Durant-type role would “invigorate this lineup,” particularly with Draymond Green at center in certain lineups, and could help transform the Warriors from a play-in team into a deeper threat in the Western Conference.
Golden State currently holds the eighth-best record in the West and has hovered around .500 through much of the season. With the trade deadline approaching, targeting a proven scorer like Porter, a former NBA champion with title experience, could be exactly the kind of move that pushes the Warriors further into true contender status.
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