The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, and for the fifth-consecutive season, the Warriors stood pat, not making any deals. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, the last time the Warriors made an in-season trade was February of 2014.
Things have worked out quite nicely for the Warriors by keeping the core of the team intact as the team has played in all four of the last NBA Finals and the team is, once again, favored to represent the Western Conference to play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Despite having maybe the most talented roster in the NBA, it doesn’t mean that the team can’t improve before the end of the season. For teams looking to add additional help before the playoffs, they must do so before the March 1 buyout deadline — and the Warriors are absolutely going to look to add some depth to the bench.
ROBIN LOPEZ
With the trade deadline in the rearview mirror, some teams are in the process of buying out contracts, and there are a few guys the Warriors will keep their eye on, beginning with Robin Lopez, who is expected to be bought out according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Warriors and Lopez have had mutual interest since December when the Warriors were desperate for frontcourt help and Lopez was equally as desperate to get out of Chicago. Lopez could be the perfect first big off the bench to spell DeMarcus Cousins who is still working his way back into tiptop shape and on a minutes restriction as to keep his recovered Achilles working well.
More importantly, the Warriors don’t want to run the risk of overcompensation injuries — and god forbid there is an injury to anyone in the frontcourt, they don’t want to have to scramble with lineup changes as they did for much of December and early January.
When Lopez becomes available, he will have multiple suitors, but he’s already expressed an interest in the Warriors, and if they’ll have him, The Bay is likely where he’ll land.
WAYNE ELLINGTON
One of the more interesting names that have been floated out there as a potential buyout option for the Warriors is Wayne Ellington. He fits right in as a guy who can come off the bench and play a poor man’s version of Klay Thompson’s role in the offense.
He moves incredibly well without the ball and is a knockdown shooter from everywhere around the perimeter. This year, he’s shooting a mere .367 from deep, but he’s shooting it at a .380 clip for his career and has shot better than .375 from beyond the arc six times in his career.
He isn’t the defender you want him to be with is size, but he’ll put in the effort when playing for something larger than himself.
WES MATTHEWS
As soon as the Mavericks moved Wes Matthews to the New York Knicks, it was expected that he’d end up on the buyout market. Matthews was once one of the better wing scorers in the NBA before a ruptured Achilles — and he’s one of the guys that DeMarcus Cousins reached out to about the rehab process and what to expect when trying to come back from such a devastating injury.
Matthews fits the mold of the kind of wing the Warriors like coming off the bench in playoff situations. He can still create his own shot, but is extremely comfortable with a low usage rate and knocking down the open shots that come with playing with the kind of talent the Warriors have.
The Warriors have seen huge playoff performances from guys like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston when the stars are battling double and triple teams, and Matthews is the kind of guy who has the fortitude to take those big shots when they become available. While he may not be the Warriors first option, there’s no way the team would be mad if he’s the guy they end up with.
ENES KANTER
Enes Kanter is having a frustrating year in New York. He’s seen his playing time cut and he’s been dealing with much larger issues because of his political views on his home country Turkey.
Despite all of that, Kanter is still a very nice option for any team looking for a reliable big off the bench to shore up their frontline. Kanter is a guy who plays very well with his back to the basket and is a willing passer from the post.
He’s the kind of guy who goes to war for his teammates and had a healthy relationship with Kevin Durant when both were with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kanter isn’t the Warriors first or best option, but he is a realistic option if Robin Lopez doesn’t work out.
MICHAEL BEASLEY
So Michael Beasley’s name doesn’t exactly jump off the screen when you initially look at it. He has a bit of a bizarre reputation as one of those guys who you really don’t know what you’re getting until he arrives. Fortunately for the Warriors, they have a history of not only bringing in these kinds of personalities, but winning with them.
In the last two years, the Warriors have won titles with both JaVale McGee and Nick Young getting regular rotation minutes. Beasley is a guy who has accepted that he’s going to come off the bench — especially for a title-contending team, and has performed relatively well in that role in recent years.
He still has his moments, but you won’t find many complaints about his production from either the Lakers or Knicks (if anything, his 3-point shooting has been way down this season). Beasley’s two highest assist rates have come in these last two seasons and he’s been playing replacement level basketball when he’s been on the floor. It’s not a glowing endorsement, but he’s a serviceable ballplayer in the right environment.
