Why the Warriors should prioritize this trade over any involving LeBron James or Jimmy Butler

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Golden State Warriors are aiming to acquire a star player before the trade deadline. This report was further supported Wednesday by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who said the Warriors have their eyes on Jimmy Butler and LeBron James. 

Given James’ and Butler’s age, contracts and each team’s salary cap constraints, these trades are both unlikely and not ideal. Here are the alternative targets Golden State should prioritize: Cameron Johnson and Dennis Schroder.

In Charania’s Tuesday report, he also specified that the Brooklyn Nets were willing to sell and have had “exploratory conversations” with teams, such as the Warriors, regarding Johnson, Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith. 

Acquiring Johnson and Schroder would be extremely beneficial for Golden State. While they are not star names, their contracts make them much more practical targets, earning $22.5 million and $13 million this year, respectively, compared to James’ and Butler’s $45 million-plus annual contracts. Their skill sets also address key areas of need for a struggling Warriors team, who have lost six of their last eight games. 

If the Warriors were to make a trade for these players, here’s what it should look like: 

Nets receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, 2027 first-round pick and De’Anthony Melton

Kuminga has been the lynchpin in many of Golden State’s trade discussions for stars, most recently evident in this summer’s Paul George situation. Though Kuminga has shown promise recently, averaging 22 PPG over his last three games, including a career-high 33-point performance in a win against the Houston Rockets, he has proven to be an awkward and inconsistent fit in head coach Steve Kerr’s system. This was underscored by the Warriors’ lack of initiative in extending his contract and him averaging just 15 points per game on 30.8% from three in his fourth year.

A low-pressure environment like Brooklyn could allow Kuminga to flourish, as Kerr’s movement-heavy system emphasizing shooting is simply not designed for the fourth-year forward to be a reliable, primary scoring option alongside Stephen Curry. 

If the Warriors are not willing to pay him, it doesn’t make sense to let the former seventh overall pick walk for nothing. 

Warriors receive: Cameron Johnson and Dennis Schroder 

Johnson’s ability to space the floor and play both sides of the ball is a commodity for any team in the NBA, especially Golden State. The Warriors lack a dependable scoring threat outside of Curry. Johnson’s 18.8 PPG on 43.4% from distance — who would only have more open shots playing next to the two-time MVP in a system tailored to his sharpshooting — would offer more support than anyone currently on the roster.