Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9). Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Warriors can turn their season around with this trade

By Justin Kim | Last updated Jan 10, 2025 5:24 PM ET

Following a 12-3 start to their season, the Golden State Warriors find themselves at 19-18, good for ninth place in a crowded Western Conference. With the clock ticking on Stephen Curry's prime, Golden State must do what it can to salvage this season.

Here is a feasible trade it should make to fill a key area of need:

Warriors receive: Nikola Vucevic

Chicago Bulls receive: Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, Trayce Jackson-Davis, 2026 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick

Why the Warriors make this trade

Golden State currently has no interior scoring threat, especially with fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga currently out of the lineup with an ankle sprain. This lack of an interior threat has resulted in an incredibly variable Warriors offense — they are much more reliant on three-point shooting without having the right personnel for such an offensive approach and have trouble breaking down simple defensive coverages on a nightly basis.

Tough possession for GSW that encapsulates some of their struggles this season. They manage to find a gap in Detroit’s zone but can’t capitalize with Dray and Loon passing up two decent looks close to the rim. pic.twitter.com/Goq0ekyEJI
— Justin Kim (@justinkimdc) January 10, 2025

Per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Warriors are looking to add frontcourt depth and already have Vucevic in mind.

Although Vucevic has his defensive flaws, the Warriors have been a middling defensive team anyway (tied for 14th in defensive rating with four other teams). Given that the Warriors are currently starting two non-scoring threats in Draymond Green (8.7 PPG) and Trayce Jackson-Davis (8.8 PPG), Vucevic's offense (20.2 PPG and 10.1 RPG on an impressive 42.4% from three) would be a welcome addition and have magnified impact on a team desperate for scoring and spacing like Golden State.

In this trade, Golden State only gives up Gary Payton II, who has missed 107 games since the start of the 2022-2023 season; a wildly inconsistent Buddy Hield, who has averaged 9.7 PPG on 34.2% from three since the Warriors' 12-3 start; and Jackson-Davis, who has proven to be a mediocre offensive talent and regressed since last season (70.2% to 59.1% when almost all of his shots come at the rim).

Why the Bulls make this trade

Chicago gains cap flexibility by offloading Vucevic's contract ($40 million for two seasons) while only taking in Payton II's expiring contract ($9.1 million) and two smaller-scale contracts in Hield ($37 million for four seasons) and Jackson-Davis ($6 million for three seasons).

The Bulls also accelerate their rebuild while receiving multiple second-round picks for the 14-year veteran, a deal they are open to making according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Justin Kim

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