Now that it’s clear the Golden State Warriors will likely get zero on-court contributions from center Kristaps Porzingis this season, the front office appears to be scouring the trade market looking for potential deals. According to a report by Shamit Dua of In the N.O., the Warriors are among teams that have reached out to the New Orleans Pelicans with interest in acquiring center Yves Missi. However, Dua reports that the team has rebuffed inquiries, with new head coach Jamahl Mosley championing
the young big man.
“Teams have also continued to call on Pelicans center Yves Missi, and sources say the Golden State Warriors have recently made inquiry,” Dua wrote. “The Pelicans, like with Jones, continue to rebuff offers, which have mostly been based around second round picks. Mosley is a big advocate of Missi and wants the young center to be the focal point of the Pelicans defense. Missi is currently out with a left knee bone bruise that he sustained in Utah.”
While Dua does not mention the Warriors as a specific suitor for Herb Jones, the Dubs have been previously linked to him. Moreover, Jones would help solidify Golden State’s wing depth with Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler sidelined. A lockdown defender, Jones would also be an obvious potential target to try and help the Warriors improve from a horrendous start to the season defensively.
Missi have averaged 7.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in his young career and the 22-year old has averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game across two games so far this season (Missi has been sidelined for multiple games with a toe injury). A 2024 first-round pick, Missi is only making about $3.5 million this season and has a guaranteed $5.6 million salary next season. While Missi’s salary would be far from enough to match Porzingis’ $20 million, it could be paired with Jones to make a trade work. The Dubs could also pair Porzingis with Moody to send out enough salary to receive Missi and wing Trey Murphy III.
Presumably the Warriors would have to add significant draft compensation to get any of those deals done though, something the front office has seemed hesitant to do in the past. Perhaps with Porzingis sidelined, rookie Yaxel Lendeboorg looking ahead of schedule, and head coach Steve Kerr desperately needing a trustworthy big man, the Dubs will have more urgency to get a deal done.
