If the Golden State Warriors fail to add a franchise-elevating asset to their roster, they should rush to trade for promising young assets.
The franchise may end up acquiring an underrated Utah Jazz duo this season.
“This trade would give the Warriors exactly what they’ve been missing: size, rebounding, and consistent scoring,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Wednesday.
“Walker Kessler, a defensive anchor, addresses the glaring issue in Golden State’s interior defense.”
“Averaging 10.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game this season, Kessler brings rim protection the Warriors have lacked since losing Kevon Looney’s youthful agility.”
“His ability to finish around the rim and set hard screens also enhances Stephen Curry’s pick-and-roll opportunities.”
“John Collins adds a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense with his combination of athleticism and shooting. At 6-foot-9, Collins is shooting 42.4% from three while averaging 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season.”
“His versatility makes him an ideal fit for Steve Kerr’s system, which thrives on floor spacing and movement.”
“Collins’ ability to attack mismatches inside or stretch the floor on the perimeter would keep defenses honest, particularly in crunch time.”
“Adding these two players could elevate Golden State’s offensive efficiency while fortifying their defense.”
“With Kessler’s defensive dominance and Collins’ scoring versatility, the Warriors would immediately look more balanced and dangerous. However, the cost of losing glue players like Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II might sting in the short term.”
In Bitar’s proposed trade, the Warriors would send Jonathan Kuminga, Payton II, Looney, Kyle Anderson, and two future first-round picks to the Jazz for Kessler and Collins.
Kessler is still a raw project in Year 3, but it isn’t asinine to predict that the Auburn product will be an All-Star in the future.
As a fundamentally sound 7-foot center with great touch around the rim and superb defensive instincts, Kessler averages a double-double and over two blocks per game on 71.9% field goal shooting.
On the other hand, Collins is an above-the-rim 6-foot-9 athlete who can be depended upon to drill triples at a high rate and snag a respectable number of rebounds per game.
While Kuminga’s exceptionally high ceiling would cause the Warriors to hesitate to place him on the trade block, the organization’s urge to complete another meaningful trade may result in a surprising in-season move.
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