Why Warriors must make bold move to aid superstar Stephen Curry
The 11th-place Golden State Warriors are plunging in the Western Conference. In recent games, the once-dominant team has blown multiple 20-point leads and, with the exception of 35-year-old superstar Stephen Curry, looked old, small and slow.
Clearly, Curry needs more help.
"Four of their most important players are 33, 33, 35 and 38," The Athletic's Anthony Slater wrote, referencing Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Curry and Chris Paul, respectively. "Time was always the biggest battle this roster would face."
Curry is averaging 29.4 points, 5.1 and 4.4 assists and has an astounding true shooting percentage of 67.4%.
As great as he is, though, he's not enough to carry this team by himself.
Golden State (10-12) — which next plays Tuesday against Phoenix — is the only team in the NBA that doesn't have multiple players averaging 16 or more points. Andrew Wiggins has been nearly unplayable and Thompson looks like a shell of his former All-Star self.
Wiggins is averaging career lows with 12.6 points and 1.2 assists and shooting a horrific 27.7% from deep and just 42.1% from the field. Thompson hasn't been much better, averaging 15.8 points on career-low efficiency (40.4% from the field and 35.4% from three).
If you take Curry off from the Warriors, they would be the worst shooting team in the NBA.
Without a resurgence from Wiggins and Thompson or a trade, the Warriors will not end the season hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy as NBA champs.
To upgrade, Golden State should target Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors), Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls) or Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz). Toronto and Chicago, in particular, could be willing trade partners.
"As buyers and sellers slowly reveal themselves, teams are keeping close tabs on the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls," The Athletic's Shams Charania wrote. "Toronto has lost three games in a row, stands 9-13 on the season and has left teams believing that now, more than ever, either Siakam or [OG] Anunoby could be traded by the Feb. 8 deadline."
It's crucial for the Warriors' front office to be active in the market. Curry is still in his prime and capable of leading a team to a championship. It's the front office's job, however, to build a capable, balanced roster around its superstar. Golden State obviously does not have that now.
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