The Golden State Warriors suffered a major blow to their rotation’s depth after losing veteran guard De’Anthony Melton to a torn ACL. To this point, Melton has been an impactful player for the Warriors during his time on the court, showcasing exactly why the team inked him to a one-year deal in the offseason.
Now, with him set to miss the remainder of the season, the Warriors may need to make a move before the NBA’s trade deadline to inject another difference-making depth piece into their rotation.
Here are a few potential trade targets the Warriors should have on their big board.
1. Robert Williams III
Despite only being active in six games so far this year, when he’s been on the court, Portland Trail Blazers’ center Robert Williams III has looked solid. So far this season, the 26-year-old has registered 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per contest. According to league sources, his play has caught the eyes of opposing front offices, such as the Lakers, Pelicans, and Kings. Perhaps another team that should buy a ticket in the Robert Williams sweepstakes is the Golden State Warriors.
Williams could help provide the Dubs with another high-level defensive presence alongside Draymond Green, improving on what appears to be one of the league’s best defenses. While it’s only a small sample size, Williams is shooting an efficient 76.5% from the field.
Given the 27-year-old’s recent play, the price to acquire him from the Blazers might be steep. In Golden State’s case, however, adding a player of Williams’ caliber could help take their rotation to the next level, which might make a deal worth it for the Dubs.
2. Jonas Valanciunas
Jonas Valanciunas is one of the most intriguing players expected to be moved before the NBA’s trade deadline.
The veteran center has put up solid numbers while coming off the bench for a Washington Wizards squad that hasn’t looked all that competitive this season. The 32-year-old Valanciunas has demonstrated his crafty rebounding and interior scoring prowess for years, and his skillset is one the Warriors may look to add to their roster.
While it will likely take some draft capital for the Wizards to agree to a deal, acquiring a player like Valanciunas could certainly give the Warriors a boost of depth at the backup center position.
3. Cam Johnson
So far this season, Cam Johnson has exceeded many expectations, seeing a noticeable improvement in his play after a rough campaign last year. Johnson is averaging a career-high 19.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest for a Brooklyn Nets squad that has been a pleasant surprise so far this season.
That said, if the Nets’ luck starts to run out and the losses pile up, Brooklyn may become sellers as we move closer to the NBA’s trade deadline. If that’s the case, front offices around the association will likely connect with the Nets inquiring about Johnson’s availability.
Assuming the Nets plan to move on from Johnson, the Warriors should at least kick the tires on acquiring the talented young scorer. Adding Johnson would give the Warriors another dangerous weapon in Steve Kerr‘s high-powered offense, though the asking price from Brooklyn may be quite steep.
4. Jakob Poeltl
While he may not get a ton of buzz in the national media, Jakob Poeltl is playing some of the best basketball of his career for the Toronto Raptors this season. Alongside RJ Barrett, Poeltl has helped turn Toronto into one of the league’s most intriguing young basketball clubs. So far in 2024, the 29-year-old has registered 17.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest, shooting nearly 61% from the field.
As well as the young squad has played, when approaching the trade deadline, if the front office feels they need to shake things up, they too could become “sellers”. If that’s the case, the Warriors should inquire about what it would take to bring in a player like Poeltl. While the Raptors would likely have a high price tag on him, Poeltl could provide the Warriors with some much-needed height and floor-spacing ability within their rotation.
If the Warriors want to find themselves a big man who could take their roster to the next level, bringing in a guy like Jakob Poeltl could be just the right move.
Why These Targets Make Sense For Golden State
Targeting players such as Poeltl, Johnson, Valanciunas, and Williams is fairly realistic for Golden State, not only because their contract situations make them attractive to a “hard-capped” Warriors’ front office, but also because their play styles fill specific needs within the Dubs’ roster. As it currently stands, the Warriors may have the depth to survive Melton’s season-ending injury, but if they ultimately decide to look for other potential additions on the open trade market, expect these four players to be among those in consideration for Golden State.
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