In a record-setting, MVP caliber season in which he won the NBA scoring title, Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors within one basket of a playoff spot.
Although Stephen Curry played out of this world and was heavily considered the best player in the league this season, the Warriors were playing short-handed all year long. They could not provide Curry with a strong enough supporting cast to get them over the hump and back into postseason relevance.
Just two years removed from their last finals appearance, the Golden State Warriors have a lot of work to get done this summer. They need to rebuild this team into the title contender that was once feared by the entire league.
With Klay Thompson and James Wiseman set to be back at 100% and the Warriors looking to make the playoffs next season, let's take a look at the five trades the Warriors need to make this offseason to get more help for super star Stephen Curry.
Warriors trade targets:
Devonte Graham
Currently falling out of the rotation on a Hornets squad that saw the ascension of LaMelo Ball and resurrection of Terry Rozier, Graham would be a perfect acquisition for the Warriors. He's an electrifying combo guard and scrappy defender that would add to a formidable backcourt with Stephen Curry. With this move, the Warriors could bump Thompson to small forward and form another dynamic scoring trio in Curry, Thompson, and Graham.
Add to that Draymond Green's playmaking and Wiseman's limitless scoring ability and they'll be able to start playing positionless basketball while picking apart defenses left and right. The Warriors are looking to re-tool and bounce back in a major way next season and adding Graham into the rotation would be a huge boost for them.
Lauri Markkanen
A disgruntled young star on a dysfunctional Bulls team, Lauri Markkanen would be a perfect fit for the Warriors system. His innate 3-point shooting and strong low-post presence would allow him to thrive with the Warriors as a mobile big man. He would be able to play the power forward or center spots and provide them with more shooting to lessen Curry's scoring load.
This addition also gives the Warriors a solid big man pairing of Markkanen and Wiseman, both versatile big men that could make the Dubs a lethal force on the glass while providing them with stronger interior defense.
With this move, the Warriors would be able to implement a refined version of their “death line-up” that would feature Curry, Thompson, Green, Toscano-Anderson, and Markkanen as the line-up they would use to close out games all season long.
Justise Winslow
Still derailed by injuries that have made him unable to provide the Grizzlies with any meaningful minutes, Justise Winslow could be rejuvenated on the Warriors. With Golden State's top-notch training staff and up-tempo system, Winslow would have a quicker recovery time while finding new life in a fast-paced and high scoring style of play that allows him to learn from high IQ players in Curry, Thompson, and Green.
After all he is a product of the Miami Heat's brand of positionless basketball that saw him guarding anyone from point guards to centers. With his defensive tenacity, scoring, and playmaking abilities, Winslow is exactly the type of multi-skilled, two-way player that Steve Kerr loves to coach and Winslow's game would develop nicely in their winning culture.
De'Andre Hunter
This young and athletic wing would be the perfect addition to a Warriors team in desperate need of speed and length on the perimeter, especially with Kelly Oubre Jr.'s return to the team still up in the air.
With his strong perimeter scoring and effortless ability to finish at the rim, Hunter would provide the Warriors a much needed scoring punch and he'd also be a lob threat for them on fast breaks and in half-court sets.
At just 23 years of age, Hunter would be a welcome addition to the Warriors' youth movement. This would also add to their continued efforts to surround Curry with more youth and athleticism for their upcoming title runs.
In Hunter, the Warriors would be able to properly utilize a talented wing that's fallen out of the rotation in Atlanta.
Steven Adams
After spending eight seasons on the Thunder and contributing to the teams many deep playoff runs, Steven Adams currently finds himself on a Pelicans team that's in the bottom-tier of the western conference. With a move to Golden State, Adams would provide a perfect mix of size, grit, and rebounding that the Warriors haven't had at the center spot since Andrew Bogut was on their roster.
The addition of Adams would also give Draymond Green a reliable and seasoned frontcourt mate that provides them with unmatched rim protection, strength, and length that disrupts the passing lanes and denies easy access to the hoop. This is a move that could resurrect the Warriors back into the defensive juggernaut that made them western conference champs five years in a row.
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