The Golden State Warriors are among the teams to keep an eye on for the next couple of days.
The Warriors should be more motivated than ever to make a trade following Jimmy Butler’s season-ending lower-body setback. However, there’s no telling how the franchise will manage the rest of the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
According to the Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, the Dubs have expressed interest in executing a Jonathan Kuminga-centered deal for the Los Angeles Lakers' No. 1 trade target.
“Word is that Golden State also looked into (De'Andre) Hunter to some degree as it explored its options in smaller deals built around Kuminga's contract — raising the prospect of Kuminga reuniting with former Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson in Cleveland — but all that was before the Warriors' Giannis (Antetokounmpo) chase became their overwhelming focus at this deadline,” Fischer and Stein reported Saturday.
If Butler were still in the Warriors' lineup, it would have made more sense to pursue Hunter on the trade market. Adding a complimentary three-and-D piece (Hunter’s shooting 36.5% from three for his career) alongside Butler and Stephen Curry wouldn’t have been a frowned-upon move by most of the franchise’s fan base.
However, with Butler out of the fold, acquiring a superstar to pair with Curry is the only way for the Dubs to realistically compete for a title this season. As Fischer and Stein Line, the Warriors are in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, making it illogical for them to consider acquiring Hunter.
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