If the Golden State Warriors plan to complete a groundbreaking trade this season, they should do so soon.
The franchise would be wise to target a well-respected Chicago Bulls superstar.
“This trade is so obvious, it basically wrote itself,” SB Nation’s Oliver Fox wrote Monday.
“(Jonathan) Kuminga is the speculative young player who fits the Bulls’ timeline and LaVine is the veteran scorer to take pressure off Stephen Curry for one last push for ring No. 5. It’s so obvious I almost didn’t include it.”
“But there’s good stuff here. You’ll notice the complete lack of draft picks, which I decided to leave out to acknowledge LaVine’s status as a distressed asset rather than a true commodity.”
“But he became such a distressed asset last year that people forgot that he’s actually good at basketball, and he would help the Warriors win games.”
“If anything, he’s an idea to improve the last few years Curry has to offer. And I love ideas.”
“Some Warriors faithful may want to hang onto Kuminga, but I’d ask you point-blank: do you actually think this is going to end well? No contract extension? Fairly transparently calling out the coach in the media last year?”
“Clearly wanting more shots in an offense of by and for Steph Curry? Let’s just call it what it is: Kuminga needs a change of scenery, and I want one for him.”
“I think he’s a talented and explosive player who needs more shots and more time to develop. So let’s get him somewhere where that might happen.”
There’s no question LaVine has been a dynamic scorer in a Bulls uniform, but the UCLA product is wasting his prime in Chicago.
LaVine, averaging 21.7 points per game this season on 49.8% field goal shooting and 43.6% long-range shooting, deserves to be a part of a competitive organization with high expectations.
If LaVine joins the Warriors, he would have a realistic shot of succeeding in the postseason while easing Curry’s offensive workload.
Time will tell if Golden State pursues the electric guard this year.
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