Before the trade deadline on February 8, the Golden State Warriors, who are in free fall, must make some significant adjustments. According to ESPN and The Athletic, every player except Steph Curry is up for grabs in trade negotiations.
In part to obtain some financial flexibility for the squad following Golden State’s early playoff elimination the previous season, first-year general manager Mike Dunleavy traded Chris Paul’s expiring contract for Jordan Poole’s four-year contract. This gives Golden State the freedom to move pieces this season and into the offseason. As Curry approaches his 36th birthday in March, the objective is to figure out how to make the most of his remaining years.
Klay Thompson’s five-year, $189 million contract ends after this year, and Paul’s four-year, $120 million contract is non-guaranteed in its final year. They might also try to find a way out of the four-year, $109 million contract that severely struggles Andrew Wiggins. Draymond Green, a constant source of trouble because of his antics and suspensions, may also have his $100 million, four-year contract renegotiated.
Young players from Golden State like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are likely to pique the eye of selling teams during trade negotiations. The Portland Trail Blazers own the Warriors’ protected 2024 first-round pick, but they also possess the 2025, 2026, and 2027 picks, which are available for use in any deal.”Among our big-money players, who do we like the least, who do we value the least, and we’re going to trade that player at the deadline?” said ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on NBA Today. “That way, we can start building back a salary cap structure that gives you flexibility and maybe there’s one more run with Steph Curry.”
With payroll and luxury taxes included, the Warriors are expected to spend $395.4 million this season. That’s a big price to pay for a club that is projected to finish 18–22 and not make the playoffs. In addition to looking to improve this season, the front office may see this trade deadline as a chance to position themselves to avoid the new second-apron luxury tax level and have the flexibility to rebuild the squad throughout the following season.