Does this trade make sense for the Warriors?
Right now, the Golden State Warriors currently have just under $180M invested in their current roster for the 2021-22 season, meaning that they are going to be paying a record-breaking amount in luxury taxes. This trade would add another $806K to the Warriors’ payroll, which does not seem like it is that much, but this would equate to another few million dollars that Golden State would have to wind up spending in luxury taxes.
Assuming they would be alright with absorbing these contracts, the Warriors would actually be getting a ton of value that would be hard to turn down in this deal. Porzingis would be a big addition for Golden State given his range as a 7’3” big man and his abilities to play pick-and-roll basketball, but the secondary talent they would get is great.
Jalen Brunson would immediately be the back-up point guard they need, Dorian Finney-Smith is another versatile forward they could utilize in many different ways and they would be getting Willie Cauley-Stein back as well, who played with the Warriors during the 2019-20 season.
Giving up Andrew Wiggins makes the Warriors a little more vulnerable on the wing, but they would be able to have Finney-Smith, Iguodala and Porter Jr. pick up the slack. Golden State is also high on Wiseman and his potential moving forward, but they would have Porzingis, who is only 26-years-old and already a proven All-Star, under-contract through the 2023-24 season.
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This trade makes the Warriors an even better team than they already are roster-wise and makes them an even greater championship threat, but they would have a roster issue to sort out. Golden State already has 16 players on their roster as of right now and if this trade was made, the Warriors would likely have to waive Gary Payton II, Mychal Mulder and Damion Lee.
They would have no problem giving up Mulder and Payton in this deal, but the Warriors do like Damion Lee and do not want to dump him, so figuring out who else is on their way out the door in Golden State would be tough to decide for this franchise.
