The Golden State Warriors will need more talent for any chance at playoff success this upcoming season. Few options were realistic this summer after Golden State went “all in” on LeBron James in free agency and had no backup plans. The Warriors risk entering the season with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg as the only new addition to the roster. Trades will make more sense next season once the games start, and one name stands out already.
Sports Illustrated’s Blake Silverman revealed that Golden State still has interest in a former NBA Champion:
“The Wizards likely want to at least try the Anthony Davis experiment, but there’s a world where a team like Golden State gets desperate enough to improve the roster and offers a package general manager Will Dawkins can’t turn down.
One or multiple future Warriors first-round picks that could come when the franchise potentially bottoms out post-Steph Curry is enticing. Davis is eligible for an extension, which will presumedly remain unresolved for some time when you consider his injury troubles.”
Davis has one season left on his contract with the Washington Wizards, but his future is up in the air. Washington wants to extend Davis if he stays healthy and contributes to winning basketball. However, Davis has shown some skepticism about wanting to play with the team first. The Warriors will be aggressive if Davis and the Wizards want to part ways.
How Golden State Warriors Can Get Anthony Davis
The situation for Golden State to add Davis is more realistic than one would think. Washington hopes that the duo of Trae Young and Davis can lead the roster of young prospects to team success of making the playoffs.
However, the first sign of losing or Davis missing a lot of games would create issues for their game plan. The Wizards currently don’t want to trade Davis, but that stance could change quickly, especially since they already have big man Alex Sarr to develop.
Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy would have to trade a couple of draft picks to add Davis to the roster. Many teams view the Golden State picks as holding extra value due to the future after Curry looking bleak, so they’d be able to easily tempt Washington.
Scenario Where Anthony Davis Is Not Available
Golden State has not been linked to many names as trade targets beyond Davis. New Orleans Pelicans star Trey Murphy is the other main name mentioned, but the Warriors are not looking to pay their asking price of three first round draft picks.
Davis holds appeal to Golden State as another veteran who fits the timeline of Curry and Draymond Green. The Warriors hope to contend one more time before starting off fresh with younger talent after Curry eventually retires to end this era.
Trading Jimmy Butler may be necessary to make the salaries match, but Golden State could also try to add multiple teams to the trade to keep him. Regardless of the details, the Warriors will have to trade for Davis or another star caliber player to save the season from obscurity.
Warriors Still Have Interest In Anthony Davis Wizards Trade