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Jalen Smith Emerges As Top Potential Trade Option For Warriors
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- Jalen Smith Emerges As Top Potential Trade Option For Warriors
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
In spite of countless obstacles, the Golden State Warriors are moving in a positive direction this season. After winning five straight games, they are 5-3 going into Thursday's game against the Miami Heat . Even so, the Warriors are actively looking for reinforcements to help hold it down until Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody can return.
While options are somewhat limited this early on, one name that has recently been tied to the Warriors is Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith . As Golden State canvasses the league for a trade partner for Kristaps Porzingis (who is currently away from the team), they've been in talks with the Bulls on a potential deal for Smith.
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"Sources say that the Warriors are prepared to move Porzingis immediately if the right deal presents itself," wrote Jake Fischer . "The contract structure was designed to be movable as much as it was intended to suitably compensate a floor-spacing center with an All-Star appearance and a championship on his resume."
"The Warriors have called Chicago, sources say, because the Bulls theoretically offer a potential short-term answer: Jalen Smith. The 26-year-old has some floor-spacing ability and is earning roughly half of what Porzingis is making this season at $9.4 million on the final season of a three-year, $27 million contract."
Yaxel Lendeborg's rise to power has given the Warriors some measure of hope , but they need more help in the frontcourt to keep up with the NBA's top contenders. At 6'8″, Jalen Smith is a bit undersized for the position, but he brings the kind of energy that would play well in Steve Kerr's rotation. On paper, he's a dream replacement for Porzingis, but pulling off a deal may not be so easy.
"Yet the issue for the Warriors in this particular scenario is that Chicago – like any rebuilding team across the next three seasons – has to factor in the league's new lottery rules when surrendering any player who can help them stay competitive," Fischer added . "Those teams no longer have the same incentive to pursue draft assets and financial flexibility in every deal when a bottom-three record reduces your chances of winning the lottery in May."
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In seven games this season, Smith is averaging 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 47.8% shooting from the field. He wouldn't be tasked with a major role on the Warriors, but his contributions off the bench would be massive for a team that's desperate for frontcourt depth.
Now it's the Bulls who will decide what happens next. For such a trade to work, they'd need to take on Kristaps Porzingis' contract for little more than a future first-round pick. At 1-6, this season is probably a wash anyway , and they have nothing to lose from downgrading their veteran talent to build up their draft stock.
Ultimately, only time will tell how this plays out for the Warriors, but they do have options ahead of February's deadline. As they continue to fight for position in the Western Conference standings, they will consider all pathways to improving the roster and making a win-now move around Steph Curry.
