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By Alex KirschenbaumShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe 10-9 Golden State Warriors have a center problem.
Although second-year 7-foot sharpshooter Quinten Post and 6-foot-9 incumbent big Trayce Jackson-Davis are respectable enough as bench rotation cogs, neither has emerged as a traditional low post option capable of competing against the frontcourt trees of the Western Conference.
More news: Warriors Have Pieces to Complete Major Trade, Says NBA Insider
The Warriors appeared to be aware of this over the summer. They let longtime big man Kevon Looney (who himself was, like Jackson-Davis, a bit undersized at a skinny 6-foot-9) depart in free agency for the New Orleans Pelicans, opting to replace him with floor-spacing former five-time All-Star Al Horford.
But at 39, the 6-foot-9 Horford appears to be regressing mightily during his first year of calling Chase Center home. In 12 healthy games for the Warriors, the 2024 champ has been averaging 5.8 points on .343/.320/1.000 shooting splits, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in a career-low 21.8 minutes off the bench. His jump-shooting has been a major disappointment, as Golden State no doubt envision employing offered in five-out spread offenses, but he needs to nail his triples for that to truly work.
...Perhaps it's just unfair to expect a vet playing his 19th pro season not named LeBron James to have a major impact on a contending team.
That's where Bill Simmons and Kirk Goldsberry come in. On the former's eponymous The Ringer podcast "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Simmons pitches Goldsberry on a blockbuster three-team deal to help the Warriors trade away embattled power forward Jonathan Kuminga — who's missing his seventh straight game Wednesday with an injury — to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls, in turn, would offload shooting guard Coby White to the backcourt-starved Dallas Mavericks, while Dallas would send rim-rolling center Daniel Gafford to the Warriors.
"What if it was Kuminga to Chicago, Coby White to Dallas, and then Gafford and an expiring to Golden State?" Simmons wonders. "Because the moment White came back to Chicago, it kind of screwed them up. I'm not positive they need him. I actually think they probably need another wing and more explosiveness. And Coby White's going to be a free agent. Do you want to pay Coby White if you're Chicago and you already just paid [point guard] Giddey?"
Giddey inked a four-year, $100 million deal with the Bulls as a restricted free agent this past summer. His fit with White, another ball-dominant guard with shaky defense, has at times been less-than-perfect.
"There's some sort of ring-around-the-rosie trade with that. But I like the idea of Coby White in Dallas, who desperately needs somebody like him," Simmons says. "And then Gafford to Golden State, if they could turn Kuminga into Gafford somehow — I'm not going to say they're going to make the Finals, but I think that at least gives them a puncher's chance to win a couple rounds."
Goldsberry approves the arrangement, noting that Kuminga's time in Golden State seems destined to come to an end sooner rather than later.
"Remember, Looney's not there anymore, he was there forever," Goldsberry responded. "They don't have that traditional five man, with all due respect to Post. I like it. Kuminga, obviously it's not clicking. It's as awkward as it's ever been."
Sporting 37-year-old All-NBA point guard Stephen Curry, 36-year-old All-Star forward Jimmy Butler, and 35-year-old All-Defensive Team forward Draymond Green, the Warriors can ill afford another lost season. It's time to make a move, and Gafford feels like the right fit.
Through 13 healthy bouts for Dallas (12 starts), the 27-year-old out of Arkansas has been averaging 9.3 points on 61.5 percent shooting from the field (he takes 62.8 percent of his field goals within three feet of the rim, so the overall field goal efficiency makes sense) and 79.5 percent shooting from the foul line, 6.7 boards, 1.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in just 24.0 minutes per.
Gafford is currently earning $14.4 million this year. The very reasonable three-year, $54.4 million veteran extension contract he signed with Dallas this past offseason kicks in at the start of 2026-27. Armed with a crowded frontcourt that also includes 10-time All-Star power forward/center Anthony Davis, 6-foot-10 rookie Cooper Flagg, center Dereck Lively II, power forward PJ Washington, small forward Naji Marshall and more, the Mavericks could use a bit of a roster rebalance. White is a prolific three-level scorer who could thrive with the rock in his hands more.
More news: Warriors Urged to Make Blockbuster Trade for $175 Million All-Star Center
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