Another last-second deal saw the Warriors trade center Marquese Chriss to the San Antonio Spurs, per Chris Haynes.  This is a move that simply clears a roster spot for the Warriors as buy-out season approaches, but it provides an interesting piece for the Spurs if Chriss comes back healthy this year.

Chriss is still only 23 years old and was a former lottery pick. After never quite living up to his athletic potential in Phoenix or Cleveland, he found some success in Golden State as an athletic rim-runner. Sadly, Chriss suffered a traumatic stress fracture in his right leg earlier this year and has missed the rest of the season since. If Chriss can return before the end of the year, he will likely fill in as a backup center for the Spurs.

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The Warriors are a team likely to be active on the buy-out market and clearing this roster spot allows them to do that without spending extra money to cut a player. Names to watch on the buyout market will be LaMarcus Aldridge and Andre Drummond, all of which could be useful to the Warriors.

The Warriors have had issues at the center position this year, especially since Chriss went down with the broken leg, and the buyout market makes more sense to fill that position than any trade.

The Spurs likely only did this to fill the spot that eventually will be left by Aldridge after a buyout. Chriss could provide value if he returns to full health this season, but even if he doesn't, the Spurs would possess his bird rights, and thus he could be resigned without using cap space. Sometimes, it's worth it to get a young player into your system simply to see how they fit and if there is something to work with.