Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
Getty
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have two clear needs heading into the February 5 trade deadline.
A wing. And a center.
If the Warriors could address both needs in one trade for Jonathan Kuminga, that would be ideal. And according to a trade pitch from Joe Akeley of Sports Illustrated, there is a scenario where Golden State does exactly that.
To be clear, the Warriors should prioritize landing a star wing like Michael Porter Jr. or Trey Murphy III, even if that means they do not upgrade at center. But if neither of those options materialize, the following trade proposal offers a different path forward.
The Trade Proposal
Warriors receive: Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall
Mavericks receive: Jonathan Kuminga, 2026 lottery-protected first-round pick (via Warriors)
Jazz receive: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 2032 second-round pick (via Mavericks)
The trade allows the Warriors to fill both roster holes without giving up multiple first-round picks. Golden State gets a versatile wing in Marshall and an athletic rim-running center in Gafford. The Dallas Mavericks get younger and add a first-round pick. The Utah Jazz take on a salary dump in exchange for a future second-rounder.
Why the Warriors Would Consider This Trade
GettyDaniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks.
Golden State’s ideal wing would be someone who can score from all three levels while holding his own defensively.
Marshall falls short of that standard. His three-point shooting remains inconsistent—just 30.8% on fewer than three attempts per game. That becomes problematic when you consider the Warriors already have Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green clogging the paint.
What Marshall brings is everything else.
Scoring 14.0 points per game on 54.3% shooting, he thrives in the midrange and uses his 6-foot-6 frame to defend multiple positions. His decision-making stands out—1.6 turnovers per 36 minutes compared to Kuminga’s 3.6. That kind of discipline matters in Steve Kerr’s system, where spacing and ball movement dictate success.
Marshall understands how to play winning basketball. The Warriors need players who can execute without the ball, make the right read, and stay within the flow. Marshall fits that profile even if he does not provide the elite shooting Golden State desperately needs.
Gafford brings something different at center. Standing 6-foot-10, he operates almost exclusively around the rim—65.1% of his career field-goal attempts come within three feet, which explains his 70.4% career shooting percentage.
His defense tells a more complicated story. Shot-blocking comes naturally to him, but the numbers suggest he does not dominate the glass the way you would expect from an athletic big. Over the last two seasons, Dallas has rebounded better defensively with Gafford off the floor.
That said, pairing him with Al Horford and Quinten Post gives Kerr options. Matchups dictate rotations in the playoffs, and having three centers with different skill sets allows Golden State to adjust based on opponent. Marshall and Gafford would not close games, but they would strengthen the rotation enough to push the Warriors toward a top-six seed.
Why the Mavericks Would Make This Trade
Cooper Flagg
GettyCooper Flagg was drafted No. 1 by the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks are looking to get younger and open future cap space to build around Cooper Flagg.
Trading two 27-year-olds in Marshall and Gafford for a 23-year-old in Kuminga fits that timeline. Dallas would also acquire a lottery-protected first-round pick, which adds future flexibility.
That said, Marshall and Gafford are not the players the Mavericks need to move most to accelerate their rebuild. Dallas is more focused on trading 35-year-old Klay Thompson and currently injured 32-year-old Anthony Davis.
The Mavericks might counter by offering Thompson instead of Marshall. If the Warriors agreed to that swap, Dallas would not need to give up a first-round pick. But Golden State would likely prefer Marshall, who fits their timeline better and provides more two-way impact at this stage of his career.
That leaves Dallas still holding Thompson, but the Mavericks would gain a first-round pick and Kuminga. Giving Kuminda major minutes over the next couple of months would allow Dallas’ front office to determine if he is a long-term fit. It is a low-risk, high-reward move for a team that can take advantage of Golden State’s lack of leverage.
Why the Jazz Participate in This Trade
Golden State needs to clear salary and trim their roster down to 15 players for the trade to work.
Jackson-Davis becomes expendable once Gafford arrives. With Horford and Post already in the rotation, keeping a fourth center makes no sense. The Warriors need to move him, and Utah provides the landing spot.
The Jazz take on Jackson-Davis for one reason—a 2032 second-round pick from Dallas. It costs them nothing. Utah can waive Jackson-Davis immediately after the deal goes through, turning this into a pure asset collection.
Dallas includes the second-rounder willingly. Landing a first-round pick from Golden State makes the Mavericks more than comfortable parting with a distant second. For Utah, it is free value in exchange for absorbing an unwanted contract for a few days.
Does This Trade Make Sense for the Warriors?
GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
This trade is not as good as landing Michael Porter Jr. or Trey Murphy III.
Porter Jr. is averaging 25.7 points per game this season and shooting 40.1% from three. Murphy III provides elite three-point shooting and defensive versatility. Both players would be significant upgrades over what the Warriors currently have on the wing.
But if the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans are unwilling to trade those players, the Warriors need a backup plan. This proposal from Akeley offers exactly that.
Marshall is not a star, but he is a solid rotation player who fits Golden State’s system. Gafford is not a game-changer, but he provides athleticism and rim pressure that the Warriors lack at the center position. Together, they address both of the team’s most glaring needs without requiring the Warriors to gut their future draft capital.
Final Word for the Warriors
The Warriors need a wing and a center.
This trade pitch from Joe Akeley of Sports Illustrated provides both. Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford are not stars, but they are solid rotation players who fill specific needs. The Warriors would not have to give up multiple first-round picks, which preserves some future flexibility.
If Golden State cannot land Michael Porter Jr. or Trey Murphy III, this deal offers a realistic alternative. Marshall’s basketball IQ and versatility would fit well in Steve Kerr’s system. Gafford’s athleticism and rim-running ability would give the Warriors another option at center.
The Warriors would address two needs in one move without mortgaging the future. Dallas gets younger and adds draft capital. Utah collects an asset for free. All three teams have reasons to consider it, though this remains a proposal rather than active negotiations.