Warriors Named Most Likely Team to Trade for This Superstar

There could be some big trades on the horizon in the NBA. There are multiple teams that haven’t had the start to the season that they’ve hoped for and are now going to be looking around for trade partners to pivot their seasons in a different direction. 

The Dallas Mavericks are probably the most likely team involved in NBA trade rumors to actually make a move. Reports are that they will be working with Anthony Davis over the coming months to potentially find a trade that satisfies both their organization and AD. 

Sam Quinn of CBS Sports ranked every team on their likelihood to trade for Davis, and surprisingly, the Warriors were named the top team.

“No team is less subtle about the stars it's monitoring. They've been lusting after Davis since 2018. The timing never aligned. It might now. The Warriors are all-in on the present. They have most of their picks available to trade along with some young-ish players. They could plausibly win the championship with Davis here and now. The fit is pretty straightforward. Davis is the rim-protector and lob catcher the Warriors have wanted forever…Here's where things get complicated: building the deal. The Warriors designed Jonathan Kuminga's contract to be traded... but not for someone as expensive as Davis. Golden State is locked below the second apron and Davis makes $54.6 million. With their $2 million cushion, they'd have to send out about $52-53 million before even considering empty roster spots. There are two ways they could do so and neither is easy.”

Quinn continues to hash out a few possible ways for the Warriors to get Davis. Ones that include trading Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, which would be risky. 

For as much as the Warriors have wanted a player like Davis, are they willing to dismantle their current core to get him? Davis’ injury history is worrisome. On the other hand, his age makes him a better option to bridge the gap between the current team led by Stephen Curry and the future.