How Will Golden State Differ After the Trade Deadline?
The Warriors made their move near the end of this year’s trade deadline, but it may not have been the move speculated by most. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name flirted with a potential link to Golden State, as the team comprised one of the three main potential suitors. The ‘Greek Freak’ ended up staying put in Milwaukee, but the Warriors didn’t keep their silence. Their nearly year-long drama with Jonathan Kuminga has finally come to an end, as the former seventh overall pick was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks. Along with him went Buddy Hield, who will stay in the memory of Warriors fans for his 33-point, nine-three-point Game Seven performance against the Houston Rockets last year.
In exchange, Golden State received an NBA Champion with the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis. The New York Knicks draftee brings a more reliable center option, both in minutes and in productivity. I say this to compare him to Al Horford, who has not steadily contributed as much as the Warriors had hoped when they signed him in September. It's also worth noting that Porzingis is not expected to play until possibly after the 2026 All-Star Break, as he deals with a tendonitis issue. However, once he returns to the court, this addition could shift Golden State’s current trajectory.
A major area of concern that opened up following Jimmy Butler’s long-term injury was on defense. Above all else, this move should stabilize the team’s interior defense and offer a great pair alongside Draymond Green. Porzingis is a more-than-capable defender that can absolutely hold his own against the league’s best big men, something that this lack of size has given the Warriors trouble in the past. Offensively, Golden State now has a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, and opposing teams can’t afford to sag off as they would sometimes do when facing Horford. Porzingis’ numbers have slightly dipped when compared to his crucial role with the 2024 Championship-winning Celtics squad, but not to a level that raises concern.
Golden State will lose a bench player who can catch fire quickly when he has the hot hand. Hield had a role in which his production is replaceable, especially if someone like Brandin Podziemski can finally take a step up. Kuminga’s departure leaves some concerns as far as athleticism goes, but with the return of De’Anthony Melton and the ascension of Will Richard, it should fill this hole. Golden State should ultimately benefit from the addition of Porzingis, but more importantly, getting as much value as possible from a broken relationship with Kuminga.
