ESPN Analysts Name Warriors as Team Most Likely to Pull Off Big Move at Trade Deadline

Kuminga has reportedly turned down Golden State’s contract offer and while other teams have offered him a contract in free agency, they have failed to meet the Warriors’ high asking price for him in a potential sign-and-trade.

Because of this, Golden State has missed out on multiple free agent targets as they have yet to sign anyone in free agency, though they do reportedly have deals in place with multiple players that will likely be finalized after Kuminga’s situation is resolved.

ESPN analysts name Warriors most likely team to make major move before trade deadline

With the Warriors failing to make upgrades to their roster this offseason amid the situation surrounding Kuminga, they were recently named as the team most likely to make a major move ahead of the trade deadline this season by ESPN analysts.

Golden State received seven votes and they were followed by the Los Angeles Lakers (five votes) and both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans (three votes).

ESPN analyst Anthony Slater also revealed why the Warriors were named the team most likely to make a huge move ahead of the trade deadline.

“The Warriors lead this list because they've essentially spent the offseason signaling a desire for deadline movement. Their two-year, $45 million contract offer to restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga was designed to get him on a salary number they can flip come January,” Slater wrote.

It appears as though Slater, along with many others around the NBA, believe that Kuminga will be back with the Warriors next season and that they will use him to pull off a major trade before the deadline in February.

Of course, Kuminga has been the main reason for the Warriors’ poor offseason but he could also land them a nice package of players and draft capital ahead of the trade deadline if Golden State does decide to move him.

Either way, Golden State will likely need to make another major trade this season to upgrade their roster if they want any shot at competing with the top teams in the Western Conference to try and make another run to the NBA Finals.