Getty Kevon Looney deflects a pass
The Golden State Warriors are in a position where they might have to take some risk in trades they make. They have assets but likely won’t want to move many of them for a player who isn’t a star.
A proposed trade from Dan Favale of Bleacher Report would involve taking a risk that could pay off. Favale’s trade would land Robert Williams III of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Warriors would get: Williams, 2028 second-round pick via Portland, Rayan Rupert
Trail Blazers would get: Reggie Jackson, Moses Moody
Charlotte Hornets would get: Looney, Atlanta’s 2026 second-round pick via Golden State
“The Warriors could use a center with a truer big-man profile than Draymond Green or Trayce Jackson-Davis. RW3 isn’t conventionally huge (6’9″), but at his best, he’s a game-changing screener, diver, short-roll passer and defender—regardless of the matchup. Betting on his health isn’t a modest risk,” Favale wrote on July 12. “He missed most of last season with a right knee injury and has appeared in just 41 games over the past two years. Still, the potential payoff is worth the nondescript financial investment. RW3 is on the books through 2025-26…for a total of just $25.7 million.
“Surrendering Looney is no longer much of a concession on the Warriors’ part. Including Moody for an injury-prone big is tougher to reconcile. But inconsistent usage coupled with his entering a contract year makes it easier to stomach his exit. Golden State is also getting back control of its own second-rounder in 2028 while grabbing a flier on Rayan Rupert, a three-and-D-type prospect with whom I’m absolutely smitten, and who’s under team control for another two years at $4.1 million total.”
Conflicting Reports on Warriors’ Interest in Trading Young Players
The Golden State Warriors have been in trade rumors over the past few weeks. After losing Klay Thompson, the team added Buddy Hield and others in an attempt to replace him.
Despite trying to replace him, the Warriors have been rumored to have an interest in Lauri Markkanen, as well as other stars. If that’s the case, moving Moody in a trade for Williams could hurt them, as the Utah Jazz or any other team could be interested in him due to his age.
However, Monte Poole of NCS Sports Bay Area reported that they don’t have any interest in trading their young players, including Moody.
“The Warriors have exhibited no desire to part with Kuminga, and their same intent has been applied to Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis,” Poole wrote on June 24.
Head coach Steve Kerr didn’t have the same message, saying everybody besides Stephen Curry is in trade talks.
“First of all, you have to understand, there’s very few players in the league who are not talked about in trade discussions. Steph Curry is not being discussed in trade talks. Everybody else is,” Kerr said on July 10 on an episode of “Willard & Dibs” on 95.7 The Game.
Williams Would Help the Warriors’ Defense
Williams, who’s entering the third year of his four-year, $48 million deal, made the All-Defensive team in the 2021-22 season.
He’s an elite shot blocker, blocking 2.2 shots per game that season. He’s blocked at least 1.2 shots per game in each season of his six-year career. Having him around the rim behind Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and others could give the Golden State Warriors one of the top defenses in the NBA.
On the offensive end, Williams would be an interesting fit due to his lack of a 3-point shot. However, Kerr and Curry have typically figured that out, as Looney isn’t a threat from 3-point range either.
He’s only played in 41 games over the past two seasons, which is a concern, but when he does play, there’s value in the 26-year-old.
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