Warriors Trade Two Rising Stars for $60 Million Shot Blocker

Steph Curry thinks that the composition of the Golden State Warriors squad makes more sense than it did the year before, but he acknowledges that it is still physically lacking in size.

Although the summer has been a very busy one in the Bay Area, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. may not be finished creating the team just yet. If he is not already doing so, adding a skyscraper or two to the skyline of Chase Center is likely at the top of his list of things to do. The Los Angeles Lakers are already somewhat deep in the luxury tax hole; therefore, it makes the most sense for them to add height and length to their rotation through a trade rather than signing free agents.

According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, a potential trade involving the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks would involve the trading of four players, including starting center Kevon Looney and first-round selection Brandin Podziemski. In return, the Knicks would receive big man Mitchell Robinson and wingman Quentin Grimes. Rising star Jonathan Kuminga and recently acquired bench player Cory Joseph would also be moving to the Big Apple if this hypothetical idea were to come to fruition.

GettyDuring an NBA playoff game in May 2023, Bam Adebayo (left) and Kyle Lowry (right) of the Miami Heat attempt to box out Mitchell Robinson (center) of the New York Knicks. The game is taking place in Miami.

Even after re-signing forward Draymond Green and signing free agent big man Dario Saric this offseason, the Dubs have one of the shortest rotations among the contending teams in the NBA. This is despite the fact that the Dubs are one of the best teams in the league.

Robinson would bring a ton to the Dubs if they were interested in acquiring extra size. On Thursday, July 13, Buckley wrote, “He is not only 7’0 tall, but he seems even bigger thanks to his explosive athleticism.” He would have an influence on the game as both a shot blocker and a lob finisher, giving this front court more vertical lift than it has seen in years.

Robinson and Grimes together would bring some of the hard-nosed defensive intensity that marked previous championship teams for the Warriors. This intensity was frequently lacking during the 2022-2023 season, both during the regular season and in the playoffs, but it would be present with the addition of Robinson and Grimes.

“Robinson would give Golden State a dimension it doesn’t currently have, and Grimes could quickly find his way to major minutes as a plug-and-play, three-and-D wing,” added Buckley. “Robinson would give Golden State a dimension that it doesn’t currently have.”
GettyForward If the Los Angeles Lakers decide to make a move during the summer of 2023, they have a valuable asset in the form of Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who they may use as a trade chip.

Despite the fact that he averages only five field goal attempts each game, Robinson is a highly productive offensive player who has a lifetime field goal percentage of 71.2%. According to Basketball Reference, Robinson has played five seasons in the NBA. During that time, he has recorded an average of 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. His greatest worth lies in his ability to protect the rim and grab offensive rebounds. In his professional career, he has averaged 0.9 steals per game.

In July of 2022, Robinson signed a contract worth $60 million over the course of four years. This was made possible by the center’s stellar defense and willingness to get his hands dirty for the squad. These qualities also make Robinson the ideal front court teammate for Green, who thrives in that environment.

Grimes has the potential to be a competent substitute for Golden State’s loss of Kuminga, which will undoubtedly be detrimental to the Warriors’ ability to defend the perimeter of the court. Grimes, who is also 23 years old and will be playing in his third NBA season in 2023-24, is entering the league at the same time as Kuminga.

The percentage of three-point shots that Grimes has made from beyond the arc has been higher than that of Kuminga’s in each of the past two seasons, averaging 5.1 attempts per game. Kuminga has a career field goal percentage of 35% from outside the arc while shooting at a considerably lower volume with just 2.2 attempts per game, despite the fact that as a rookie he shot below 34% from deep.

Kuminga is three inches taller than Grimes, and his stature and athleticism are both superior to those of Grimes. The Warriors run the risk of missing out on what might be an exceptionally high ceiling of a high-flying, versatile defender who can play above the rim with just about anyone in the league if they decide to trade Kuminga for any player. This is the risk they run if they choose to swap Kuminga for any player.

Having said that, the state of California has placed all of its bets on the subsequent several years behind its Big 3 teams. It may now make more sense for the Warriors to add rim protection and three-point shooting for the now rather than waiting for Kuminga’s future fame, which may not be achieved before Curry, Green, and Klay Thompson have retired, if it is ever realized at all. Adding rim protection and three-point shooting for the present may now make more sense for the Warriors.

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