wco81 wrote:JK is an attractive trade asset because he's playing on a 1-year contract basically.
If they don't trade him, they will exercise the team option and then look to trade him by next season's trade deadline.
That's hoping that Giannis forces his way out, which is really unlikely and even if he asks out, it would likely be to the Knicks or one of the asset-rich teams will make the best offer.
Otherwise, what trade targets would be worth sending out several rotation players plus FRPs? If this team wins 48 or more games, that means they have good rotation players. So to send those out, only a superstar would be worth those assets, especially the FRPs in 2028 or later.
If you look at last year's All-NBA teams, the only players who might leave their teams are Giannis and Lebron.
Bucks are going to win enough games in the East that Giannis won't ask to be traded before next summer, if they don't go anywhere in the playoffs. And even if he does ask out, Warriors are far from the favorites to be able to acquire him. Lebron was second team All-NBA like Curry. But it remains to be seen if he'll sustain that level more than another season or two and he wouldn't be a good fit here. Lakers seem ready to let him walk so no point in giving up many assets for him.
If you go for All-Star or All-Star level players, then we're talking about potential targets like Trey Murphy. How many players and FRPs would we have to give up for him? Probably would have to overpay. Odds of drafting a player like Murphy or Johnson are low but not that low. Odds of drafting a generational player like Curry again is much lower.
Is there someone below the top 20 players who would elevate the Warriors to the OKC echelon this season? Seems unlikely.
So probably not worth trading JK for anyone other than Giannis, especially if he keeps up his play and the team keeps winning.
I've said this before and I'll say it again I don't think anyone can beat our trade offer if we put everything else on the table unless teams are willing to give up Amen, Harper, Flagg, etc. Realistically, how does a team like SAS or HOU get to 50M+ for Giannis in attractive contracts AND have picks better than GSW in 2031 and beyond.
For salary, we have JK, Moody, Buddy, Podz, Gui, TJD. That's about 50M in either expirings or young players on great deals (MM and Podz). How does Hou or SAS get to 50M with similarly attractive contracts? If a team wants to win after trading us a star, we can always ship out Jimmy or JK + Dray to get to 50M.
For picks, are there really many picks better than our picks beyond 2029? I don't think so. Maybe Uta/Was/Phx's this year (which is with Mem?) because that draft looks loaded but i don't think those picks are getting moved and as far as future picks go, we may be some of the best ones out there.
So match the 50M+ of expiring/young salary with the best (or top 5) pick package in the league and, all of a sudden, we may have the most attractive trade package in the league. Sure, if Dallas wants to trade Flagg or SAS is open to moving Harper, they can build a better package. Those players are not going anywhere, not even for Giannis, so, realistically, who can construct a better package than this:
JK, Moody, Podz, Buddy, TJD, Gui = $51.5M + FRP in '28, swap in '29, FRP in '30 (1-20, as the other end is owned by was), swap in '31.
That's two PREMIUM FRPs (like the one Den just moved to get off MPJ) and two very good swaps. Sure, some team can beat that pick haul (not by much) but can they do it while getting to 50M in salary? I just looked at Hou and SAS and both would find it hard to get to 50M without some problematic contracts.