Lauri to GSW

Golabki · Post #1 » by **Golabki** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 2:24 pm

Based on the reporting I believe this is possible in Jan. It seems like an obvious one.

GSW gets Lauri

Utah gets Kuminga + Moody + Heild + a bunch of firsts

GSW locks in a starting and closing lineup of Curry/(Melton or Pods)/Butler/Lauri/Draymond with Melton/Pods and Horford as the 6th and 7th men. Lauri is a great fit for their offense and gives them the size and rebounding they need to shift Draymond to center more. This doesn't get them to OKC level obviously, but I think it would put them right with Denver in the next tier in the west.

Utah cashes in Lauri and fully rebuilds. Kuminga and Moody are interesting players for them that I think they'd value (although not hugely valuable). Hield could be rerouted to a contender for a couple seconds either at the time of the deal or next. Obviously the question is how many picks does it take. I think 2026, 2028 and 2032, all unprotected feels right. I don't think Lauri has super high value on that contract, with his injury history and the fact that even at his best he's probably a #3 option (maaaaybe a #2) on a real contender. But I do think Utah will look to move him and the 2028 and 2032 give them enough upside to make it worth it.

Post #2 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 2:36 pm

I don't think Lauri is worth "a bunch of firsts" even if you only see Kuminga as an expiring contract.

Golabki · Post #3 » by **Golabki** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:15 pm

gswhoops wrote:I don't think Lauri is worth "a bunch of firsts" even if you only see Kuminga as an expiring contract.

If he looks like he did last year, I don't think he's worth it and Utah probably just keeps him. If he looks like he did 2-3 years ago, then he's a pretty exciting piece and worth some real assets. I'm optimistic based on his international play this summer, but we'll see one way or another since the deal can't happen till Jan.

Post #4 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:18 pm

Golabki wrote:
gswhoops wrote:I don't think Lauri is worth "a bunch of firsts" even if you only see Kuminga as an expiring contract.

If he looks like he did last year, I don't think he's worth it and Utah probably just keeps him. If he looks like he did 2-3 years ago, then he's a pretty exciting piece and worth some real assets. I'm optimistic based on his international play this summer, but we'll see one way or another since the deal can't happen till Jan.

The nice thing is that we'll have another 1/2 season of info before this deal can happen, so we'll know one way or the other

Crymson · Post #5 » by **Crymson** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:41 pm

Kuminga has veto power over any trade, and presumably would not be a fan of this one.

Post #6 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 3:42 pm

Crymson wrote:Kuminga has veto power over any trade, and presumably would not be a fan of this one.

He waived his implied NTC as part of the deal

babyjax13 · Post #7 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 4:34 pm

If we get to that point I think something can be agreed to - as long as Golden State doesn't attribute a ton of value to the players it is sending. I am optimistic about Lauri, too. He had two great seasons then a bad season last year, but had a great recovery in FIBA. If he plays well Golden State might be bidding against other teams, but I'd be pretty happy with some Warriors picks considering the age of their core. I'd be worried about their depth after the deal, but I think it is a really, really fun starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

vege · Post #8 » by **vege** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:05 pm

Golabki wrote:
gswhoops wrote:I don't think Lauri is worth "a bunch of firsts" even if you only see Kuminga as an expiring contract.

If he looks like he did last year, I don't think he's worth it and Utah probably just keeps him. If he looks like he did 2-3 years ago, then he's a pretty exciting piece and worth some real assets. I'm optimistic based on his international play this summer, but we'll see one way or another since the deal can't happen till Jan.

The main thing is, he is not on the same contract he was 2-3 years ago. On his current contract he is a negative asset.

Golabki · Post #9 » by **Golabki** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:28 pm

babyjax13 wrote:If we get to that point I think something can be agreed to - as long as Golden State doesn't attribute a ton of value to the players it is sending. I am optimistic about Lauri, too. He had two great seasons then a bad season last year, but had a great recovery in FIBA. If he plays well Golden State might be bidding against other teams, but I'd be pretty happy with some Warriors picks considering the age of their core. I'd be worried about their depth after the deal, but I think it is a really, really fun starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

My view is that all three out going players from GSW have positive value (relative to a random player on an expiring), but all in the range of "decent 2nd" to "crappy 1st". So that's net-net a positive, but wouldn't be enough it to be the primary part of a deal for Utah.

parsnips33 · Post #10 » by **parsnips33** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:31 pm

I just hope ownership has the stomach for this type of move, if not this exact one

DonaldSanders · Post #11 » by **DonaldSanders** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:34 pm

I don't think Lauri to GSW is possible anymore. Salary is the first thing that comes to mind, then the other is position -- Draymond plays PF. If you want to go small, you're now sitting Al and the warriors don't want Dray playing C all year. At 46M Lauri is hard to trade for, the Warriors would need to have a full roster so they'd need to take more than just Lauri back, hard to see this without sending a bigger salary with JK like Draymond, which neither side wants.

Golabki · Post #12 » by **Golabki** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:35 pm

vege wrote:
Golabki wrote:
gswhoops wrote:I don't think Lauri is worth "a bunch of firsts" even if you only see Kuminga as an expiring contract.

If he looks like he did last year, I don't think he's worth it and Utah probably just keeps him. If he looks like he did 2-3 years ago, then he's a pretty exciting piece and worth some real assets. I'm optimistic based on his international play this summer, but we'll see one way or another since the deal can't happen till Jan.

The main thing is, he is not on the same contract he was 2-3 years ago. On his current contract he is a negative asset.

If he plays well to start the year, I think he's a positive value. It does seem like the main push from other is that it's too much for GSW to give up.

What about Kuminga, Moody, Hield, 2026 and 2028 unprotected. GSW is presumably pretty confident on 2026 being late if they are doing this in Jan/Feb. So it's really the 2028 pick that's the risk (and Lauri's health).

tcheco · Post #13 » by **tcheco** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:42 pm

Hard to argue this for the warriors a bit, depending on health and the season
Hield is slated to start, Moody will play 20+ minutes, Kuminga is 30 minutes per game, so around 80 minutes lost in important rotational players. They would depend on the buy out market. I would love to see this, I'd think that Utah would need the value of 2 or 3 picks in players, if they can rerout Hield and Moody for a first, Kuminga playing decently can be worth a first ish, Warriors add a first and a swap? too little?

babyjax13 · Post #14 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:45 pm

Golabki wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:If we get to that point I think something can be agreed to - as long as Golden State doesn't attribute a ton of value to the players it is sending. I am optimistic about Lauri, too. He had two great seasons then a bad season last year, but had a great recovery in FIBA. If he plays well Golden State might be bidding against other teams, but I'd be pretty happy with some Warriors picks considering the age of their core. I'd be worried about their depth after the deal, but I think it is a really, really fun starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

My view is that all three out going players from GSW have positive value (relative to a random player on an expiring), but all in the range of "decent 2nd" to "crappy 1st". So that's net-net a positive, but wouldn't be enough it to be the primary part of a deal for Utah.

Yah, I think that is pretty reasonable. As a rebuilding team we'd look to flip Buddy. I like Moody, I'd probably pay a late first for him, anyway. Kuminga, I don't like, but he's worth trying out, so late first/seconds type of value - which means the bulk of the value is in bags.

Post #15 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:56 pm

DonaldSanders wrote:I don't think Lauri to GSW is possible anymore. Salary is the first thing that comes to mind, then the other is position -- Draymond plays PF. If you want to go small, you're now sitting Al and the warriors don't want Dray playing C all year. At 46M Lauri is hard to trade for, the Warriors would need to have a full roster so they'd need to take more than just Lauri back, hard to see this without sending a bigger salary with JK like Draymond, which neither side wants.

I agree. I think the Lauri to GS ship has sailed. You either have to play Draymond at the 5 full-time and bench Horford or play huge with Jimmy at the 2 and Lauri at the 3. Neither option really works.

Post #16 » by **gswhoops** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 5:57 pm

Golabki wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:If we get to that point I think something can be agreed to - as long as Golden State doesn't attribute a ton of value to the players it is sending. I am optimistic about Lauri, too. He had two great seasons then a bad season last year, but had a great recovery in FIBA. If he plays well Golden State might be bidding against other teams, but I'd be pretty happy with some Warriors picks considering the age of their core. I'd be worried about their depth after the deal, but I think it is a really, really fun starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

My view is that all three out going players from GSW have positive value (relative to a random player on an expiring), but all in the range of "decent 2nd" to "crappy 1st". So that's net-net a positive, but wouldn't be enough it to be the primary part of a deal for Utah.

Agreed, I don't assign more than a late 1st in value to any of the guys we're sending. But unless Lauri has a major rebound year he's a negative value on his current deal

babyjax13 · Post #17 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 6:40 pm

gswhoops wrote:
DonaldSanders wrote:I don't think Lauri to GSW is possible anymore. Salary is the first thing that comes to mind, then the other is position -- Draymond plays PF. If you want to go small, you're now sitting Al and the warriors don't want Dray playing C all year. At 46M Lauri is hard to trade for, the Warriors would need to have a full roster so they'd need to take more than just Lauri back, hard to see this without sending a bigger salary with JK like Draymond, which neither side wants.

I agree. I think the Lauri to GS ship has sailed. You either have to play Draymond at the 5 full-time and bench Horford or play huge with Jimmy at the 2 and Lauri at the 3. Neither option really works.

Lauri at the 3 is fine, but if Butler really has to be a 3/4 then yah, I think that ship has probably sailed.

Agree that Lauri needs to start the season well to be worth trading (for both Utah and other parties).

Golabki · Post #18 » by **Golabki** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 7:55 pm

babyjax13 wrote:
gswhoops wrote:
DonaldSanders wrote:I don't think Lauri to GSW is possible anymore. Salary is the first thing that comes to mind, then the other is position -- Draymond plays PF. If you want to go small, you're now sitting Al and the warriors don't want Dray playing C all year. At 46M Lauri is hard to trade for, the Warriors would need to have a full roster so they'd need to take more than just Lauri back, hard to see this without sending a bigger salary with JK like Draymond, which neither side wants.

I agree. I think the Lauri to GS ship has sailed. You either have to play Draymond at the 5 full-time and bench Horford or play huge with Jimmy at the 2 and Lauri at the 3. Neither option really works.

Lauri at the 3 is fine, but if Butler really has to be a 3/4 then yah, I think that ship has probably sailed.

Agree that Lauri needs to start the season well to be worth trading (for both Utah and other parties).

I don't really see the issue - having too many good guys at SF/PF is a good thing.

If this happens their top 7 after the trade are Curry/Melton/Pods/Butler/Lauri/Draymond/Horford... that's 3 guards, 2 forwards and 2 bigs. Seems balanced to me. Curry/Butler/Lauri/Green are the "big 4" and who plays more of the other 3 guys can flip based on the situation.

Sure they lose some depth in a 3 for 1, but you've got TJD, Post, Santos, GP and Curry Lite. None of those guys are perfect, but I think they can all play (particularly in the regular season) and keep miles off the vets.

SlimShady83 · Post #19 » by **SlimShady83** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 7:58 pm

babyjax13 wrote:starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

I might be right all along about you guys trading Laurie/Kessler, might not be to the Lakers for either but see you guys trading both eventually :nod:

babyjax13 · Post #20 » by **babyjax13** » Wed Oct 1, 2025 8:05 pm

SlimShady83 wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:starting five:

Steph - Butler - Lauri - Draymond - Horford

I might be right all along about you guys trading Laurie/Kessler, might not be to the Lakers for either but see you guys trading both eventually

It is within the realm of possibility. I think most of us expect to see Lauri dealt if he plays well? Some don't, for sure. I do think we keep Walker, though.