Ranking Warriors’ Top Trade Targets After 2024 NBA Playoff Loss

Ranking Warriors’ Top Trade Targets After 2024 NBA Playoff Loss0 of 3

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The Golden State Warriors are officially out of the NBA championship chase.

For now, at least.

Their 2023-24 campaign closed with a loss to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In Tournament, perhaps setting the stage for a hyperactive offseason. They’ve still yet to find a capable co-star for Stephen Curry, their lack of size was glaring at times this season and their supporting cast wasn’t exactly a model of consistency.

Some might argue it’s time to ditch the dream of reviving the old Dubs dynasty and start drafting plans for how to build the next one. As long as Curry remains on the roster, though, it seems a safe bet to assume Golden State will do everything it can to try to win big with its once-in-a-generation superstar.

3. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets1 of 3

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When the Warriors have been at their best, they’ve had wings who can blanket a number of different assignments on defense while supplying knock-down shooting at the opposite end.

That’s more or less the job description of Brooklyn Nets swingman Dorian Finney-Smith. While his shoot has cooled the past two seasons, during the three campaigns prior, he was a 38.9 percent net-shedder from distance. That’s essentially the same level of shot-making the Warriors were getting out of Andrew Wiggins when he was serving as Curry’s sidekick during their run to the 2022 title.

Wiggins has regressed in both quantity and quality since, though, and given the shaky shooting he showed before getting to Golden State, the Warriors can’t just assume he’ll rediscover his stroke. They also can’t be certain of ever getting notable shooting volume or efficiency out of Jonathan Kuminga.

In other words, they might really need a three-and-D wing, particularly if Klay Thompson walks in free agency. Finney-Smith has the shape-shifting defense part down pat, and his three-ball might heat up in a hurry when playing off of a gravitational force like Curry instead of underqualified lead options like Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas.

2. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers2 of 3

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For as well as the Warriors play small-ball, they’ve tried adding size to their mix. They got great mileage out of big-ball bigs like Andrew Bogut, Zaza Pachulia and JaVale McGee and saw a decent return on their cheap investment in DeMarcus Cousins. While the selection of James Wiseman (No. 2 in 2020) didn’t pan out, it showed their desire in having a bona fide interior anchor.

Considering next season’s championship path could be lined by the likes of Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and a number of other mountains in the middle, Golden State could be on the search for size this summer. The Dubs could do a lot worse than prying Jarrett Allen away from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now, he probably won’t be easy (or cheap) to get, but if the spacing issues with him and Evan Mobley appear untenable in the playoffs again, Allen shouldn’t be untouchable. It would likely cost Golden State multiple firsts and a sweetener like Moses Moody or Brandin Podziemski, but if the Warriors could get Allen without giving up Kuminga, that’d feel like a win.

Allen is essentially the polished version of what Golden State hopes Trayce Jackson-Davis becomes, only with more height (6’11” to 6’9″) and length (7’6″ wingspan to TJD’s 7’1″). Allen may not have the most diverse skill set around, but he is a top-shelf paint protector who consistently hits the glass and finishes at (and usually above) the rim.

1. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns3 of 3

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Ready to venture way outside of the box? Remember, you’re in lights-year territory, so you should be.

The Warriors have never shied away from big dreams, and they don’t plan on doing so now. Their deadline push for LeBron James was perhaps merely an appetizer for the feast of huge-name pursuits ahead.

“The Warriors’ lead decision-makers still believe Curry’s longevity gives them a couple more seasons of possible contention if the roster around him is up to it,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Anthony Slater and Jovan Buha reported in February. “If there’s a path to LeBron, Giannis Antetokounmpo (their dream scenario), impending free agent Paul George or a reunion with Kevin Durant, they will explore it.”

Now, chances are the Warriors won’t actually land any of them, but it hardly feels impossible for Durant specifically to shake loose if the Suns fall disastrously short of their championship goal. And if Durant wants out, maybe he’d want back in to the Bay, where he dazzled alongside Curry while delivering three Finals trips and two championships over a three-season span.