(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors have fallen greatly ever since winning the 2022 NBA championship, and they’re now losing one of their main stars in Klay Thompson, who has agreed to join the Dallas Mavericks in a pending sign-and-trade deal.
With Stephen Curry still playing at a high level and a few young studs becoming consistent contributors, the Warriors are hoping to swing a big trade in order to pry open their championship window once again.
Per 95.7 The Game, Monte Poole said he has heard the Warriors’ top trade target is big man Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz.
“Based on what I’ve heard, the Warriors number one target is now Lauri Markkanen.”
– @MontePooleNBCS via @SteinyGuru957.
https://t.co/QlyIKz7wFy pic.twitter.com/SUcLCBEWkG
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) July 2, 2024
Markkanen is seven feet tall and 240 pounds and can play all three frontcourt positions, and he has averaged 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds a game over the last two seasons in Utah.
His ability to hit consistently from 3-point range (he has made 39.5 percent of his attempts from that distance the last two years) would seem to make him a good fit for head coach Steve Kerr’s pace and space offense.
However, the Jazz don’t seem really eager to trade Markkanen, and thus landing him could cost Golden State a ton of capital.
They don’t have a lot of attractive players they could offer in a potential trade, although one would figure that forwards Andrew Wiggins and/or Jonathan Kuminga could be routed to Utah in such a deal.
The Warriors missed the playoffs this past season, and just about everyone agrees that their dynasty is absolutely over.
On the other hand, if they somehow land Markkanen without giving up too much, it could get resurrected once again.
The post Analyst Says He’s Hearing Warriors Have A Number One Trade Target appeared first on The Cold Wire.