On the heels of suffering a 113-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at home, Golden State Warriors’ superstar guard Stephen Curry described his team’s recent play as being “mid”.
Steph Curry: “Like the kids say, we’re very mid right now. Just very average.” pic.twitter.com/k2heozvcYT
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 31, 2024
And Steph certainly isn’t lying.
After starting off their 2024 campaign with a 12-3 record, Golden State has found themselves in “free-fall mode”, so to speak. In their last 15 contests, the Warriors have posted an abysmal 3-12 record, seeing themselves slowly slip down the NBA’s Western Conference standings. If they want to be included in “contender conversations” once again, Golden State will need to make some adjustments to their lineup – and fast.
If the Golden State front office opts to search the open trade market for additional talent to bolster their roster, perhaps they should check with the New Orleans Pelicans about the availability of former No.1 overall selection Zion Williamson.
Williamson-to-Golden State Rumors Picking Up Steam
At this point in time, all signs seems to suggest that the Pelicans are heading in the direction of full rebuild. For months now, names of Pelicans’ mainstays like Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have been included in trade rumors. And, while Ingram is likely viewed as a high-value trade commodity, perhaps the Pelicans could opt to ship Williamson out of town first.
Bobby Marks thinks Zion Williamson could be a potential trade target for the Warriors:
“For him to be on the court, that’s how you can get the most value for him, either in a trade or with the Pelicans. I’ve always circled Golden State, [who] would be certainly that team there… pic.twitter.com/BmwvTYRHC8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 17, 2024
According to an article recently published to Bleacher Report, the Warriors could be a solid potential landing spot for the former University of Duke star. While there’s been no official reports of the two organizations talking about a potential swap, it’s easy to see why both sides could be interested.
Analyzing Zion’s Potential Fit in Golden State
After starting out the season as a top-ranked unit in the association, the Warriors’ offense has seemingly dropped off a cliff. The addition of Williamson into the Dubs’ rotation could help solve some of their issues on this end of this floor. Throughout his four years in the league, Williamson has showed a keen ability as an inside scoring threat. Apart from his elite ability to get to the rim, Williamson’s ability to hit teammates in stride and make the right pass out of pick-and-roll situations, a staple of the Dubs’ current offensive scheme.
On the opposite side of the ball, Williamson might not turn heads, but he could be a serviceable defensive presence for the Warriors on the low block. While his career numbers won’t pop off the page, Williamson does however possess elite athleticism that allows him to contest driving opponents at the rim.
I’ve said it many times before, but the warriors should absolutely trade for Zion if they don’t have to pay all that much. https://t.co/eYJJmOaot2
— Gary (@GaryFromTheBay) January 1, 2025
In all likelihood, Williamson’s potential fit within the Warriors’ rotation would be an interesting one. Pairing the four-year NBA veteran’s elite interior presence with the Dubs’ dynamic outside shooting abilities could be a recipe for success. While there’s absolutely a fair amount of risk involved with the potential acquisition of Williamson, his addition to the Warriors’ lineup could be exactly what this team needs to get things back on track.
So, How Realistic is a Potential Zion-Trade for the Dubs?
If the Warriors ultimately opted to make the move to acquire Williamson, it would absolutely come as a shock to many.
When looking at a potential Williamson-to-Golden State trade pound-for-pound, acquiring the 22-year-old would clearly be big swing for the Dubs’ front office. In the Pelicans’ case, Williamson’s price tag would likely be quite high, meaning the Warriors would likely be forced to shell out significant capital in any potential swap.
It’s time @warriors pic.twitter.com/mbYkdaOlcu
— 27 (@27woorld) December 31, 2024
In any case, the Warriors acquiring Williamson could be just the addition the team needs to help them become legitimate playoff contenders in the West. While his injury history and weight struggles do pose a significant level of risk, Williamson could make an instant-impact within a Warriors’ rotation begging for a second bona fide scoring-threat behind superstar Stephen Curry. Additionaly, when considering the incentives and various
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