Golden State Warriors fans should expect the franchise to upgrade its roster over the next couple of weeks.
While a 21-19 start to the season isn’t ideal for the seven-time NBA champions, one trade could help turn everything around for Steve Kerr’s crew.
Blue Man Hoop’s Tyler Watts believes that parting ways with an underwhelming wing duo is the first step toward legitimately contending for a title this season.
“Golden State will make moves before the trade deadline,” Watts wrote Saturday. "They hope to end the Jonathan Kuminga saga. The talented forward is out of the rotation, but fans have seen the flashes.”
“The Warriors need production from that spot and would love to find a 3-and-D wing or a big man to improve their rotation. The Warriors must find a deal for (Buddy) Hield and Kuminga. They need more talent and depth to compete with the top teams in the Western Conference.”
“It is all about finding the right deal. (Stephen) Curry is still elite, so Golden State has a shot. Making a deep playoff run hinges on the upgrades they make between now and Feb. 5.”
Hield has disappointed with the Warriors through 1.5 seasons. Inconsistency has been the name of the game for Hield in a Golden State uniform, causing analysts like Watts to suggest that it would be in the Warriors' best interest to wash their hands with the well-known three-point sniper.
Curry and the Warriors can’t afford to move forward with a contributor who’s been up-and-down on far too many occasions in the Bay. Quite frankly, the same thing can be said about Kuminga. The beginning of the former lottery pick’s NBA career has been full of encouraging flashes.
However, Kuminga’s production has been all over the place thus far, as the 6-foot-7 NBA champion can score 20+ one night and two the next. More importantly, Kuminga doesn’t fit the Dubs’ offensive scheme/philosophy, as he isn’t a dynamic, or at the very least serviceable perimeter shooting threat alongside Curry.
Simply put, Watts’ assessment of Hield and Kuminga couldn’t be more accurate in early January.
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