The Golden State Warriors will need to acquire another capable contributor if they want to completely turn their campaign around for the second half of the season. An emerging target for the Dubs leading up to the trade deadline is Houston Rockets swingman Victor Oladipo who recently declined to sign a two-year deal offered by the team.
Via Kevin O' Connor of The Ringer:
“League sources say the Warriors have interest in acquiring Rockets guard Victor Oladipo.”
“Golden State would not have the cap space to pursue him this summer, so the time to pounce would be now. Houston can’t demand too much in a deal given Oladipo has underwhelmed and will become an unrestricted free agent.”
“Plus, Golden State wouldn’t have a whole lot to offer. Because of picks owed elsewhere, the Warriors are able to deal up to just two first-round picks: one from 2021 (via Minnesota) or 2022, and one from 2026 or 2027.”
Oladipo used to be an All-Star caliber player which led him to snag two straight selections in 2018 and 2019. However, a major knee injury slowed him down and limited him to record averages of 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists through 15 games played this season.
On the other hand, the Warriors have been banking on Stephen Curry's production to keep them afloat in the Western Conference playoff race. However, the two-time MVP can only do so much and the Warriors would eventually need to find other contributors on the floor, especially if they manage to sneak in the playoff picture.
Golden State previously had versatile playmakers in Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala. Though Draymond Green is still adept in locating his teammates, having another prolific court general would allow Curry to take a breather from time to time while not sacrificing the quality of production on the floor.
In addition, they will also have to address the hole on the perimeter after witnessing the underwhelming performances of both Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr., especially on the offensive end. With the potential arrival of Victor Oladipo, the Warriors will finally have a constant threat on the wings and inject more firepower into their offense for the second half of the season.
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