The Warriors were among several NBA teams active before February’s NBA trade deadline.
Golden State focused a lot of its attention on pursuing Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo until the two-time NBA MVP ultimately ended up staying with the team that drafted him in 2013.
In addition, the Warriors reportedly discussed a potential trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. before the two-time All-Star selection was acquired by the Utah Jazz.
General manager Mike Dunleavy and Co. also reportedly called the Los Angeles Clippers about Kawhi Leonard when the team seemed open to trading its franchise superstar, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne reported in a joint column published Friday, citing league sources.
A trade for Leonard never came to fruition either, which led the Warriors to pivot to the Atlanta Hawks and trade their disgruntled young forward Jonathan Kuminga for 10-year NBA veteran Kristaps Porziņģis.
Leonard still is in the prime of his career, even at 34 years old, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game and earning an All-Star nod this season. Adding the two-time NBA champion to Golden State’s roster instantly would have brought in both offensive and defensive firepower.
Instead, the Warriors acquired Porziņģis, who has not suited up since his Golden State debut on Feb. 19 against the Boston Celtics due to a mysterious illness.
“Porziņģis had been on the franchise’s radar as an eventual trade target since last season, when it became clear the Celtics were careening toward a financial reckoning and would need to shed salary,” Slater and Shelburne wrote.
“The Warriors struck up conversations with the Hawks about Porziņģis more than a month before February’s deadline, before Butler tore his ACL, viewing Porziņģis initially as a complementary finishing piece to a fringe contender.”
Porziņģis traveled with the team for its three-game, six-day road trip that began with Golden State’s 115-113 thrilling overtime win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, indicating a positive sign in the right direction for the 7-foot-2, 240-pound Latvian’s return.
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