The Golden State Warriors have been struggling this season with a high number of losses and an inability to improve their win-loss record. There are several reasons for this, including inconsistent player performance and numerous injuries. Recently, Kuminga has been out due to injury, which has had a significant impact on the team. Prior to his injury, Kuminga was putting up career-best numbers and scoring over 30 points in consecutive games. He is expected to be out for at least three weeks, making this period particularly challenging for the Warriors.
Kuminga has been the second-leading scorer for the Warriors this season, behind only Curry. Without him, the team's offensive scoring and defensive capabilities have significantly declined. New addition Schroder has not had the desired impact. While he averaged 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with the Brooklyn Nets, his averages with the Warriors have dropped to 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. In recent games, Schroder has struggled with shooting, going 3 for 17 from the field.
Hield has also been experiencing a shooting slump, with poor performances from beyond the arc in his last three games. Despite starting the season strongly, his scoring has been declining. This inconsistency may explain why he is valued at only $38 million over four years. With both Hield and Schroder struggling to score, they are unable to effectively support Curry in leading the team to victory. The absence of Kuminga further exacerbates the team's scoring issues.
According to ESPN, the Warriors are not interested in trading for Butler due to his age and position as a swingman. Instead, they are looking to acquire a taller player, particularly an inside player who can complement Draymond Green and ideally possesses three-point shooting capabilities. Potential targets include Vucevic from the Bulls, Kessler and Collins from the Jazz, and Valanciunas from the Wizards. Vucevic and Collins have three-point shooting abilities that align well with the current small-ball era, while Kessler and Valanciunas are traditional blue-collar centers known for their defense rather than three-point shooting.
NBA experts suggest that the Warriors urgently need to trade for a scorer who can alleviate the pressure on Curry. Vucevic from the Bulls could be the best option for several reasons. First, Vucevic has strong scoring ability, averaging 20.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists this season, with impressive efficiency, hitting 55.7% of his shots. Second, he has a strong three-point shooting capability, averaging 2.2 threes per game with a 42.4% success rate, making him one of the league's top three-point shooting centers. Third, Vucevic complements Draymond Green and Curry well, with Green's strong playmaking skills and the potential for effective pick-and-roll plays between Curry and Vucevic. Fourth, the Bulls' asking price for Vucevic is reasonable, making the deal more feasible than those involving players like Utah's Ingles. Warriors fans are calling for a trade package including Bjelica and a second-round pick to acquire Vucevic. Curry needs a scoring partner like Vucevic to halt the team's losing streak and give them a chance to turn things around and rise again.
