The Golden State Warriors are in an interesting position after getting eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The organization possesses a talented roster that could have made a deeper playoff run if the circumstances had been different.
However, there are moves the Warriors could execute in free agency to improve their 2025-26 championship odds.
Golden State could land a game-changing frontcourt asset by trading a 6-foot-4 guard to a New York Knicks squad led by Jalen Brunson.
“This trade (Draymond Green, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and a 2027 first-round pick to the Knicks for Karl-Anthony Towns) goes all-in on winning (Stephen) Curry one last title,” NBA Analysis’ Jonah Kubicek wrote Sunday.
“Much like Green, Towns’ contract lines up well with the remainder of (Jimmy) Butler and Curry’s peaks, giving the Dubs a three-year title window.”
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“The Warriors, if they make this trade, would likely have to repair its relationship with Jonathan Kuminga and re-sign Gary Payton II in an effort to bolster their defense around Butler after losing both Moody and Green.”
“The Knicks, in this deal, lose a star for added depth, giving their second unit some much-needed talent.”
Hield’s three-point shooting consistency frustrated Warriors fans all year.
Hield looked like an ideal Klay Thompson replacement one night and a below-average perimeter-oriented asset the next.
Hield averaged 11.1 points on 41.7% field goal shooting and 37.0% from three-point range, but could have finished with a 40% long-range percentage or better if he had avoided multiple regular-season slumps.
Towns, on the other hand, was a more dependable asset for his respective team.
The former Minnesota Timberwolves star center landed with New York in a massive October deal and helped the Knicks end a 25-year Eastern Conference Finals drought.
Towns’ game isn’t the most fluid, but he gets the job as a bully in the low post, a pick-and-pop weapon, and a dynamic off-the-dribble shot creator.
The Kentucky product averaged a double-double for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
Hield’s unstable nature and the Warriors’ lack of a starting-caliber center should prompt the organization to acquire Towns in a deal that allows them to retain Butler and the Knicks to pair Brunson with Hield in New York.
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