If you squint and look just right, you might see a Golden State Warriors team that actually improved this offseason. Yeah, Klay Thompson left in a surprising swirl of drama, and Chris Paul’s expiring contract didn’t turn into anything noteworthy. But with those two off the books, the Warriors snagged De’Anthony Melton—a top-tier perimeter defender—on a full mid-level exception deal. They also added Kyle "Slo-Mo" Anderson via a sign-and-trade. And hey, maybe Buddy Hield will come in and soak up the rest of that $16 million trade exception from the Mavericks for Thompson.
So, in simple terms, the Warriors swapped out Thompson and Paul for Melton, Anderson, and potentially Hield. Is that a win? Honestly, yeah. The team’s defense got a solid boost, and their offense stayed pretty much the same.
Now, let’s be real. The Warriors lost Paul in a pretty lame way and saw one of their all-time greats, Thompson, leave unceremoniously. But give credit to GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. for clawing back to something close to even. Yet, just breaking even isn’t enough for the Warriors. Remember, they weren’t great last year.
Sure, it’s trendy to say the Warriors weren’t that bad in 2023-24. They did win 46 games despite Draymond Green’s suspensions. But let’s not forget that 48 minutes of April basketball in Sacramento. The Warriors were the 10th seed in the Western Conference. They didn’t even get a whiff of the real playoffs. And the West is only getting tougher.
So while the Warriors aren’t “running it back,” they haven’t really made significant progress either. This won’t cut it if they want to make the most of the final years of Steph Curry’s incredible career. Enter Danny Ainge, the man who might hold the key to the Warriors’ future. The player to watch? Jazz’s 7-footer Lauri Markkanen.
Among all the potential trades, Markkanen stands out. He’s got the scoring, the fit with the team’s scheme and temperament, and he could keep the roster mostly intact. He’s the guy the Warriors need. But Ainge, Utah’s top basketball exec, won’t let him go easily.
Look at the Knicks—they just traded five first-round picks and threw in a pick swap for Mikal Bridges, a fantastic player who’s never made an NBA All-Star Game. Markkanen, an All-Star averaging 23 points per game on 48% shooting (40% from three, 90% from the line), is worth just as much, if not more. Ainge will demand every bit of that and possibly more. Unless the Warriors are willing to part with Jonathan Kuminga (which they don’t want to), they’ll have no leverage to say no.
Golden State’s current roster has a superstar in the twilight of his peak, a bunch of role players, and no clear second option. There’s no one to share the scoring load when Curry’s off or resting. No secondary threat to divert defenders from Curry during clutch moments. Without that, it’s hard to take the Warriors seriously next season.
Is Markkanen the perfect No. 2 option? Not really. Ideally, you’d want someone who can create off the dribble. Markkanen’s a great shooter and solid in the post, but he’s not making plays off the bounce. Still, he’s the best realistic option for the Warriors. He’d mesh well with Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kuminga, and the new role players.
Landing him would cost the Warriors dearly—essentially their future. We’re talking about mortgaging their first-round picks from 2025 to 2031 (as far out as trades are allowed), with the 2030 pick already partially committed (top-20-protected from Washington in the Poole-for-Paul trade). The Jazz will demand every tradable pick: 2025, ’27, ’29, and ’31, along with pick swaps in the off-years. That’s four first-round picks and three pick swaps. Throw in some second-rounders and maybe a young player (Ainge might see a bit of himself in Brandin Podziemski), plus the necessary salary matches (Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney fit the bill), and the Jazz might bite.
That’s if another team doesn’t make a better offer. New Orleans, San Antonio, Sacramento—any of them could swoop in with a stronger package.
Would Markkanen change the Warriors’ fate? At that cost, he’d better. Right now, the Warriors’ outlook isn’t promising, and that won’t fill seats at Chase Center. If they want to be competitive in the West, something’s got to give. And it looks like that something is all their future draft capital.
It’s crazy that it’s come to this, but here we are: it’s Markkanen or bust for the Dubs.
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