Warriors predicted to trade for Raptors' $107M physical guard fan favorite to pair with Steph Curry originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors had about as rough a season debut on Wednesday as anyone could have imagined. The team simply doesn't have the same juice that its fan base has grown accustomed to over the last decade.
Still, there are times when the Warriors lack size, particularly when injuries become an issue. During their season opener, there was even a stretch when only one guard was on the floor.
“With Brandin Podziemski dealing with low back soreness, De’Anthony Melton took his spot in the starting lineup alongside Curry, Green, Gui Santos and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Kerr made it a point to match Curry and Green’s substitution patterns to keep them on the court together. When they came off, the Warriors went as big as they could. Brandon Williams was the only guard on the floor with Al Horford, Georges Niang, Santos and Lendeborg. But they were too small and unathletic enough to keep the Lakers in check,” California Post’s Evan Webeck wrote.
Fans are calling for the Warriors to make trades, but head coach Steve Kerr has pushed back against the idea of sacrificing the team's future for another run at a championship.
“Do we throw away our entire future to build around a 39-year-old Steph? He turns 39 in March, right? Does it make sense now to throw away all those picks? H*ll no,” Kerr said.
However, there could be opportunities to improve the roster without sacrificing the team's future. CBS Sports' Sam Quinn believes a trade for Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett could be one way to accomplish that.
“He's on an expiring contract, and the Raptors simply need other things more than his individual scoring. If they can use his salary to beef up their guard rotation or add a dead-eye shooter, that probably makes them a better team. Someone with the financial flexibility to extend him and a real need for a spare creator. Golden State comes to mind if the Warriors miss on their bigger-name targets,” Quinn wrote.
Barrett is a big, physical guard who can also play forward, making him an appealing option for a Warriors team that needs more size. He could also complement Curry offensively and give Golden State another scoring option.
Barrett is currently playing on a $107 million contract with the Raptors. Although he is beloved in Toronto, the Warriors should seriously consider whether he could be a fit. His size and ability to play guard could make him a valuable addition to the second unit, particularly when Curry needs a rest.
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