The Warriors are slipping fast, and their season is drifting away. Here are four trades they must explore before the NBA deadline.
With a very average start to the season, the Warriors have already exposed cracks in multiple areas of their game. As injuries and inconsistencies pile up, these trades are needed more than ever if Golden State wants even a slight chance of making the playoffs when the season winds down.
4 Players the Warriors Must Target Before the NBA Trade Deadline
4. Domantas Sabonis
I know it’s hard to imagine a world where the Sacramento Kings’ superstar puts on a Warriors jersey, especially considering he’d be joining a rival franchise and sharing the court with Draymond Green, a player he’s had his fair share of tense moments with. But Domantis Sabonis would bring much-needed size to an undersized Golden State roster. Beyond that, he provides legitimate offensive creation as a big man: elite playmaking from the post, efficient interior scoring, and strong rebounding.
The three-time All-Star already averages a double-double this season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he’d fit seamlessly into Steve Kerr’s motion offense. And with veterans like Al Horford struggling to anchor the paint at this stage of his career, the Dubs can’t afford any instability at the center position. With rumors already swirling about a potential move to the Bay, an all-around center like Sabonis might just be the key to guiding Stephen Curry and company back to championship glory.
3. Michael Porter Jr.
Right now, Michael Porter Jr is having the best scoring season of his career. Since arriving in Brooklyn, he’s averaging 24 points per game and reminding everyone why he was once considered a top-tier prospect. For the Warriors, Porter Jr. would provide something they desperately lack: a reliable high-volume scorer who can take the pressure off Curry whenever he’s unavailable.
Dub Nation’s growing frustration with Golden State’s offensive collapses whenever Curry sits out may finally be answered. Porter Jr.‘s combination of size, shooting and on-ball creation would instantly raise the team’s ceiling and give the Warriors a perfect long-term solution for scoring depth on the wing. At 27 and in his prime, the Nets superstar won’t come cheap. The Warriors would need to give up significant assets, but it would be worth it to land one of the most dangerous scoring forwards in the league.
2. Trey Murphy III
Trey Murphy III has quietly become one of the best two-way forwards in the NBA. If he joined the Warriors, he would bring defensive versatility and elite accuracy from beyond the arc, a perfect fit for Golden State’s system. The Pelicans’ rising star is averaging nearly 20 points per game. He would give the Warriors a much-needed third scoring option who operates both on and off the dribble. Murphy’s game would fit seamlessly in their offense, feeding off Curry’s gravity and creating valuable space. At 6-foot-9, he would pair well with Green at the five, helping Golden State guard bigger wings and stretchier front-court lineups.
The Warriors had their eyes on Murphy during this past offseason, and a lot has changed since. With The Pelicans lacking control of their 2026 first-round pick, they may be forced to consider trading Murphy in exchange for assets and young talent. So a trade could definitely be on the cards.
1. Ivica Zubac
Ivica Zubac is arguably one of the most underrated players in the NBA. With Jonathan Kuminga potentially on his way out of the Warriors franchise, Golden State will need a reliable interior presence who can score efficiently in the paint. Kuminga has often been their most effective downhill threat, so replacing that production is crucial, and Zubac offers exactly that.
Zubac is exactly the type of center the Warriors need right now. He might not fix their turnover issues, but he can address two of Golden State’s biggest weaknesses: rebounding and rim protection. In many ways, he could become the Andrew Bogut of the Warriors’ modern era. A stabilizing interior presence with size, physicality, and double-double production is a must-have for the Warriors this season.
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