Could the Warriors Give Up Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga for This All Star NBA Champion?

With the trade deadline inching closer and closer, the internet is filled with trade rumors and updates. ‘Tis the season for pundits and analysts to get to work and come up with the best possible scenario for a team. Let’s take the struggling Golden State Warriors for now. They made huge offseason moves, acquiring veteran point guard Chris Paul in exchange for Jordan Poole to fix the chemistry issues for the team. However, they are still struggling with a losing 8-10 record this season.

This poses the question: should the Warriors start getting proactive in the trade market for an upgrade? If yes, are they willing to sacrifice their consistent role players for an All-Star?

A trade involving Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga

Looking at how the Dubs are faring this season, it’s reasonable to think that only a major upgrade can save their season. The top prospect who has been at the center of trade speculations since last season is the Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam. The two-time All-Star averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game last season and led the NBA in minutes for the last two seasons. He also mustered up 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per outing. The Raptors, who are primed for a rebuild this season, will be looking to attract a core of young players in exchange for the franchise superstar. They’ll likely seek players with an expiring contract to complement a package centered around upcoming draft picks and young players instead of opting for top talent.

According to HoopsHype, this is where third-year Warriors players Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga come into the picture. They both picked up their fourth-year options in October and are scheduled for restricted free agency in the summer of 2024. Kuminga will now make $7.6 million next season, while Moody is expected to earn $5.8 million. This is significant considering the steep luxury tax payments knocking at the Warriors’ door. Warriors’ luxury tax took a major hit when they signed Chris Paul for $30.8 million. Therefore, the proposed trade includes Chris Paul, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga in a deal for Siakam, who is earning $37.9 million in 2023–24.

How can Pascal Siakam help the Warriors?

With Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins still stuck in the early-season slump, the Warriors are desperate for another scorer to take the load off of Stephen Curry‘s shoulders. Pascal Siakam can score on all three levels and has received wide acclaim for his high-level defense. He can act as a secondary creator, a pick-and-roll screener, a rebounder, a versatile defender, and a transition attacker. In essence, he has all the qualities that the Warriors are currently in need of.

Read More: Warriors vs Clippers: Expected Line-up for Both the Sides Tonight

Losing Chris Paul, who has been acting as an emotional leader and effectively guiding the second unit, would be hard, but it would all pay off if it got the Warriors their eighth chip. Both Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga have been delivering consistently this season, especially in the absence of key players. However, Siakam brings a diverse skill set to the table that the Warriors can use in multiple ways. Therefore, if such a trade were to materialize, the Warriors might be back in title contention this season.

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