The Golden State Warriors have contacted the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, and Milwaukee Bucks to gauge the organization’s interest in a potential trade for center Kristaps Porzingis (or really his contract), per a report by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. With Porzingis likely headed for retirement and accepting the Warriors withholding his salary, Siegel reports that he is expected to accept a significant buyout from his $20 million salary. The Dubs front office is trying to use his contract as
a trade exception in the next month to solidify the team’s depth without limiting their options at the trade deadline.
“Among the many teams the Warriors have contacted since the start of the season, as reported earlier on Friday in our weekly newsletter, ClutchPoints has been able to confirm with league sources three teams in particular: the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and New Orleans Pelicans,” Siegel wrote.
The Warriors interest in Pelicans wings Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones has been reported on for years, and the Dubsreportedly called New Orleans about center Yves Missi earlier this season as well. However, the fact that the two sides have not previously agreed to a deal should leave fans skeptical that a deal will happen now (especially months before the trade deadline).
Siegel’s reporting suggests the Warriors and Bucks were not close to a deal for Myles Turner, with different evaluations of his contract’s value. As for the Bulls, Siegel highlighted center Jalen Smith.
“Going back to the topic of potential trade suitors for Porzingis, the Warriors showed interest in Bulls’ center Jalen Smith in a potential Porzingis-oriented deal with Chicago, but the Bulls have not shown a willingness to make such a move at this time, sources said,” Siegel said. “The Bulls are wanting to evaluate their roster and potential moves closer to the trade deadline unless draft compensation is included, despite opening the year as one of the worst teams in the NBA.”
Smith would be an excellent to the Warriors current front court depth. While he lacks the explosive ceiling that Golden State hoped to get from Porzingis, he is an incredibly well rounded role player who would give head coach Steve Kerr another center who can shoot threes other than 40-year old Al Horford.
The 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Smith never found his footing in Phoenix and was quickly viewed around the league as a bust before finding consistency with the Indiana Pacers. Over the past five seasons, split between Indiana and Chicago, Smith has averaged 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks on 50.1%/34.3%/74.9% shooting in 18.0 minutes per game (254 games, 76 starts).
Still only 26, Smith has been the primary starting center for the first time in his career this season. While he is posting career highs in minutes (22.5), points (11.0), rebounds (7.8), assists (1.8), and blocks (0.9) per game so far this season, the Bulls are 1-7 and have been among the worst teams in the league. Slated to be a free agent at the end of the season, Smith seems destined to be traded before the deadline for a package built around second-round picks. The question is, will the Warriors be able to convince the Bulls to make that move before the new year?
The Warriors only have two tradeable second round picks, one in 2030 and another in 2033. One added enticement they could add to a deal with the Bulls, who have notoriously cheap owner Jerry Reinsdorf, would be to take back either Buddy Hield or Zach Collins alongside Smith. The Warriors would likely waive either player, but would effectively be taking $18-$19 million off the Bulls books. Assuming the Bulls agreed to a buyout with Porzingis in the $6-8 million range that Siegel speculates, Bulls ownership could save around $10 million.
