Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, July 4th.
It’s been an eventful offseason thus far for the Golden State Warriors. The departure of franchise icon Klay Thompson has left a significant void on the team as the search for a new secondary star to support Steph Curry remains in full swing.
One of the intriguing possibilities this offseason was to trade for former Los Angeles Clippers — now Philadelphia 76ers — star Paul George. The All-Star wing’s expiring player option presented a potential pathway to Golden State with mutual interest from the Warriors’ front office in an effort to replace Thompson. Reports suggested the team was even willing to offer George a four-year max contract to seal the deal upon his arrival.
However, despite various trade packages from the Warriors, the Clippers stood firm, ultimately deciding to let George walk in free agency for nothing rather than trade him. On the latest episode of The Draymond Green Show, Green shared his thoughts on the Clippers’ decision, expressing disappointment at their refusal to facilitate a George trade to the Bay Area.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, July 4th:
"Most of these organizations ain't loyal"
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) July 3, 2024
—@Money23Green on the Clippers not doing right by Paul George pic.twitter.com/gNxQRO9miJ
ABOUT A MONTH after the round of golf at Riviera, with his future at Golden State increasingly uncertain, Thompson had a revelation. After almost a year of despair, he needed an entirely new experience, sources said. Out of the fishbowl, away from all the history and people he had always known. Two weeks prior, Thompson’s camp had made one final offer to the Warriors, a two-year deal for roughly $20 million per season, sources said. The response was the same as it had been for nearly a year: We just can’t do it yet.
The Warriors are the “aggressors” among teams currently discussing a trade for Markkanen with the Jazz, TNT’s Chris Haynes reported Tuesday on Bleacher Report.
“It would really put a dent in the Warriors’ roster to try and make that deal happen and try to get the Utah Jazz to bite,” Haynes said. “I would be interested to see how they would go about doing it. But you know Danny [Ainge], he craves first-round picks. What can the Warriors do to come up with the necessary picks?
“I was told the Warriors are the aggressors. San Antonio Spurs, they’re in on it as well. I’m told, on a serious nature, it’s those two teams: Spurs, Warriors. But I’m told the Warriors, more importantly, are really pursuing, really trying to see what they can do to try and make it happen.”
“Yeah, Kenny goes and coaches for the French team and now he goes and coaches for the Cleveland Cavaliers. I think he’s a traitor,” Kerr joked last week to reporters on a Team USA pre-training camp Zoom. “If you know your American history I call him Benedict Arnold.
“I’m obviously joking.”
The distinction couldn’t have been more obvious. Kerr was ecstatic to add Atkinson ahead of the Warriors’ 2021-22 championship season. He was just as happy to keep Atkinson from taking the Charlotte Hornets’ head coaching job after that season, naming Atkinson his lead assistant with Mike Brown being named the Sacramento Kings’ new head coach.
This is the complete package of assets the Warriors could include in a trade for Lauri Markkanen:
— GSWCBA (@gswcba) July 4, 2024
Kuminga
Moody
Podziemski
Jackson-Davis
2026 GSW 1st
2028 GSW 1st
2030 GSW 1st (1-20)
2025 GSW 1st (Swap)
2027 GSW 1st (Swap)
2029 GSW 1st (Swap)
2031 GSW 1st (Swap)
6x 2nds
The maximum deal of $104 million would put the Lakers about $1 million over the league’s new punitive salary second apron and would severely limit the team’s roster flexibility. James’ agent Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, is planning to discuss with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka the possibility of taking $1 million or so below the maximum to keep Los Angeles under the $188.9 million second apron, sources said.
Of course, the argument for trading Markkanen is the talent level in the 2025 and 2026 NBA Drafts. They are both terrific, with dynamic franchise-level talent at the top. In 2025, there is Flagg. But there is also Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and Nolan Traore, perhaps the best point guard to come out of France since Tony Parker. In 2026, there is Cam Boozer, the son of Carlos. There is AJ Dybantsa, Koa Peat and Ian Jackson. Utah needs as many bites of the apple at those draft classes as possible. It’s fair to ask if they can put themselves in that position with Markkanen on the roster.
Over the next few days, the Jazz will set the course for the 2024-25 season. They have signed Drew Eubanks, the rough-and-tumble center who played for the Phoenix Suns last season. That, however, is the only substantial move so far. The Jazz have been steadfast in their assertion with Markkanen despite the noise that’s been around a potential trade the last few days: They don’t want to trade Markkanen.
Wemby and Gobert in the paint together with no 3 in the key rule might be the greatest rim deterrent duo we ever seen lmao https://t.co/gSezTr3s38
— A ✩ (@adryanashton) July 3, 2024
Ramona Shelburne reported that when the Warriors handed out multi-year extensions to Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole, it “didn’t sit right” with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Thompson, who had two years and roughly $84 million left on the deal he’d signed in 2019, wanted his own extension after winning the championship. Green, who was going into the final year of the contract, also felt disrespected.
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