Mike Dunleavy acknowledges risk behind Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis acquisition
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters ahead of Golden State's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Mike Dunleavy acknowledges risk behind Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis acquisition originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
Clean day.
I'll let you guys ask some questions, but let me just start by saying, you know, the trade deadline, come and pa- come and gone, and, you know, feel good with what we did, adding Kristaps, for sure, adding a second-round pick.
doing some stuff for the summer, looking ahead to that, some things that'll help us.
But, most importantly, I wanna thank the guys that we traded: Buddy, JK, Trayce.
they all contributed to our franchise in a positive way, and, we wish those guys well.
And, you know, we're sorry to see 'em go, but we're excited about our addition here.
So looking forward to, getting KP in the mix and, moving forward.
You, you mentioned right there, doing stuff that better preps you for the summer.
What How would you say this deadline set you up for the summer?
I mean, it's slight.
This is, that's not, that wasn't the main intention of the deal.
We, we love the player in Kristaps, so we think he can help us with some of the stuff on court.
so, you know, his rim protection, his ability to score, get fouled, take care of the ball, all things that, we're looking to, to improve, particularly after losing Jimmy.
so that, that was the main thing.
But I think just adding a second-round pick for us, knowing the financials on that, what that means this summer, and, you know, in free agency, with what we're able to do with a second-round pick.
you know, just some other slight little things, but again, not the, not the main meat and potatoes, what we're trying to get done.
How confident are you that K, Kristaps Porziis, can stay healthy?
He's only played in very few games the last few years.
Just how much of a factor was that when you made this decision?
Yeah, I mean, we, we feel good about it.
We looked into it pretty in-depth, and, yeah, I mean, we, we believe in our medical staff.
there's no guarantees, there's no certainty, but with kind of where he's at right now, where he's been, we feel good about it.
And, you know, on the other end of it, in terms of, like, what we're sending out, you know, we're sending out, you know, a player in a similar boat who struggled to stay on the floor.
So, I think from our standpoint, like, we recognise the risk medically, but, you know, it's, it's a risk we're willing to take.
Have you spoken to Rick about how that first workout went this morning?
Yeah, I was there.
Okay.
It's good.
Good.
Yeah, it's good.
Went well.
He looks good.
Awesome.
Y- y- you got, one, o- one roster st- spot left for, for the buyout market.
how's, how are you sort of viewing that, that roster spot right now?
Yeah, I mean, I think we like the flexibility.
I think an underappreciated thing in this league is roster spots or availability of those, and so, you know, we're at 14.
We converted Pat, which we're really excited about.
That was certainly a thing at the deadline we wanted to be mindful of, to, to free up a spot to do that.
So we have, and we've got one more to play with, and I think from my end, just kind of take a look at things, see, over the coming weeks, what needs we have, health-wise, what we're looking at.
that'll all play into, what we may do, and we'll, we'll, we'll scour the buy- buyout market and see what's available.
You, you had a high-profile pursuit where you were putting your first-round picks on the table for would you say you were willing or, h- you know, what was the threshold to, you know, pivot off that and use your first-round picks otherwise in trades you were talking about?
I mean, I feel like I answer this every trade cycle.
We're willing to do whatever it takes to improve this team, whether it's young players, first-round picks.
We always have been, we always will be, as long as we're into this win-now window, which, you know, it was pointed out to me today that over the last calendar year, we had the fourth-best record in the NBA, you know, since Jimmy got traded till when he got hurt.
So despite the idea that we're not in the mix, we're fading, all this stuff, the reality is, up until Jimmy got hurt, we were pretty good, and I think we were trending in the right direction.
Now, we've had to pivot a little bit, and I think adding Kristaps can help, but, you know, this group is kind of what it is.
How did that high-profile pursuit that Anthony just mentioned, how did that affect the possibility of making other trades?
yeah, I don't think it did, I mean, because, we, you know, we ended up making a, a move here to get Kristaps, and, so for that reason, like, I guess it didn't really affect anything.
Mike.
obviously, Draymond's been pretty open about the fact that he, at least he knew his name was in conversations.
Do you think his relationship with the organisation has changed at all because of the fact that he realises for the first time he's not an untouchable here?
Yeah, I mean, I'd walk that back a little bit.
His name was not in conversations, other than the ones where teams call me and ask about him, which they do every year, so nothing's new there.
I mean, the idea that he stayed with the Warriors past the deadline was greatly exaggerated.
it was never, never a possibility of him not being here, r- remotely close, to be, to be honest, and I've conveyed that to him.
I think he knows that.
but when stuff comes up in the media, I think, you know, it, it feels different for the players, and I think that's the first time it happened for Draymond, so he's dealing it, with it in a certain way.
But the reality is, nothing was close, and nothing was considered, and Draymond was not being shopped or talked about in deals.
So it's a little mis- m- misleading, and, you know, we're kind of picking up the pieces here, but I think he's in a great spot, and so are we moving forward.
If you said, nothing was close regarding Draymond, I'd assume nothing was close in your pursuit of Giannis.
how What would give you confidence- Wait, why is that?
'Cause he would have to be in the deal- No, he wouldn't ... or Jimmy.
Okay, well, you're putting words in my mouth.
Okay.
So that's an unbelievable assumption.
So was Jimmy then on the table?
No.
No.
No, we're not doing that.
I'm not talk- I'm not going down the roster, talking about who's in trades and who's not.
We don't do that.
How might your package for a star-level talent compare in the summer to what it was at this deadline?
I mean, we've got the goods to make deals.
I mean, you know, I think the only way we wouldn't be in the mix is if we gave out assets, young players, all the things you need to get a great player.
We still have all that, and I think that's one of the reasons, you know, the KP trade's really good for us, similar to Jimmy last year.
You know, we don't feel like we gave up a ton, and so we still have the, you know, kind of the firepower to, to move forward and, and do more deals, and, that's what we like about it.... What, you know, obviously, you, you won't have Jimmy the rest of this season.
What do you still think this team can accomplish?
What are the internal expectations for this team?
Yeah, I'm, I'm interested to see how it goes.
You know, I think this addition for us, could be really good, similar to the, the addition to Jimmy, the way he gave us a boost.
I think this is similar, maybe not to that level.
we, we certainly took off, but, I, I, I'd say I'm not sure on our expectations just because, you know, we gotta get healthy.
Steph's been out, we gotta get him back, and we gotta get some things right.
But, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm anxious and interested.
I don't really have expectations because, it's, it's kind of an unknown for us, and, in some ways, I think it'll be kind of fun, but I know we'll be really competitive.
I know we'll fight, and, we'll see where the chips fall.
Mike on Steph.
There's always a concern when he has any kind of anything.
Is there any more of a concern for you guys because this specific knee injury is lingered a little bit more?
I mean, look, anytime Steph's missing games or injured, I'm always concerned.
but I don't think this is anything different, and we, we feel comfortable that he's gonna be okay, but, no, I, I hate it when he misses games, and, definitely, you know, there's always a level of concern.
Steph obviously hasn't slowed down.
He's still playing at an incredible level.
How long do you anticipate him to be able to play at level?
I, I don't know.
It's hard to say.
I mean, you know, four, five years ago, probably would've guessed wrong, right?
If you would've said he'd still be doing what he's doing now.
So I, I don't wanna put a ceiling on it.
This guy does everything under the sun to, you know, push his longevity out.
unbelievably committed to the game, and I don't wanna put a ceiling on the guy.
So I'm- as long as he's still really good, we're gonna keep being in this boat of, of, of trying to have a good team, continuing to get better, and, you know, it's, it's a fun pursuit.
Kristaps is obviously on an expiring contract.
How much of a priority was it in this trade market to, to, you know, I guess, keep your books clean long term?
and then how do you view his future potentially?
Yeah, I mean, I think, I think keeping the books clean is a factor, but at the same time, if a, a really good player came about that, you know, extended out contract-wise, that we really liked, we would've done that.
So I don't wanna cap it off and say we wouldn't have.
and then I think there's a pathway to bring him back next year.
We're hopeful for to have his bird rights and things like that, so, you know, I think we've got options on the table and, you know, feel good with, what kind of fold.
Has there been any conversation with Steve up to this point about his future, or is it still just very fluid?
Yeah, no, I think at the beginning of the season, it was, left at that by Steve, that, you know, take the year and, and see how it goes, and I think, you know, Steve's doing a terrific job, as always, and, you know, we'll address that as the season winds down.
I know you said nothing was ever even close to Draymond, but how did you think how he reacted to hearing what was in the media?
Like, I get it, you know, because there's so much stuff out there, way more than when I played.
these, these rumors and things, there's so many ways you hear it, so I understand it.
But I feel bad for these guys right now with, with what they have to go through for this particular week.
I mean, look, overall, their lives are great.
They're playing basketball, they're getting paid to do it, but this is a, a tough period for, for players, tougher than it's ever been.
So the- for me, it's a little bit helpless 'cause I can't really I'm not in a position, to say, "You're not doing this, you're not doing that."
Like, I just don't feel right doing that, so because of it, they gotta kind of just deal with it.
And, when everything's done, you can kind of clean some stuff up and, and go through with guys, but it's, it's definitely a tough time for us all.
but, you know, Draymond's, Draymond's an open book.
He's great.
He, he, he shared how he's feeling, but it was, you know, it was all for naught.
How do you look back on Kuming's five years with y'all and, and why it didn't necessarily work the way everybody wanted it to?
Yeah, I mean, I think Steve kind of said some stuff at, you know, his availability recently about it after, after JK was traded.
I think he, he, he said some really good things, and I'll leave it at that.
You know, we appreciate JK's contributions.
I think a good effort was made on both sides, just, you know, it just didn't work out.
Wish him well, and I think he'll, think he'll do a nice job in Atlanta.
This summer, how, how much of a priority could be getting out of the tax, given the, the type of team-building tools that come with that?
Yeah, I mean, I think we're always mindful of it, but at the same time, you know, our owner, Joe Lacob, has got a willingness to spend and, and compete and win.
So it, it just always feels weird and tough to try and duck the tax.
but there are some, some, some team-building factors that come into play that may be worth it.
we haven't really gone down that road, but we'll always look at it, and, I, I'd say, sure, it's a possibility, but, you know, we're- our chips are all in on winning, and usually, that comes with spending.
