Warriors depth pieces show potential trade value in Pacers loss, originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Rarely is there much value in a loss, but the Warriors have a lot of reasons to like what they saw Friday night based on their undermanned roster and makeshift rotations.
Every basketball voice on the payroll certainly hopes that a sizable collection of NBA scouts were present at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, watching closely, taking notes and enjoying what they saw from the Warriors in a 108-96 loss to the streaking Indiana Pacers.
The Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline is still 27 days away, and Golden State’s front office is increasing its deal-making ambitions. The expressions of patience expressed a few weeks ago, which were reasonable, have given way in the wake of poor performance, intensifying the hunt for roster upgrades.
At the very least, this matchup provided league observers with solid auditions for a few Golden State players who may not be on the roster come February 7.
With three starters – Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins – unavailable and rotation players Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski also sidelined, Warriors coach Steve Kerr had no choice but to release his entire bench and make the most of it to hope.
While Pat Spencer, Gui Santos, Moses Moody and Lindy Waters III each played at least 23 minutes, they managed to close to victory before succumbing to the talent gap in the final nine minutes.
“Great effort,” Kerr told reporters in Indianapolis. “Basically, back-to-back, the guys did a great job of really hanging in there. We just had to stretch out a little bit, make three or four threes in a row and get over the hump. I think it was 86-81 and we were there. But (the Pacers) took care of business, knocked down a few shots and couldn’t quite get there.
Winning was highly unlikely for the Warriors, but there was enough impressive activity to spark encouragement or, significantly more beneficial, pique the curiosity or interest of potential trade partners.
Kerr’s post-game comments made it clear he would welcome the addition of a big man who stretches the floor. The Warriors have expressed interest in Chicago center Nikola Vučević, who fits that role as well as any big man in the league and significantly better than anyone known to be available in trade.
Kerr not only acknowledged that the subject had come up in conversations with the front office, but then spent nearly a minute touting the potential of 7-foot-2 rookie center Quinten Post, a second-round draft pick who is a project but has a nice touch from beyond the arc.
“It’s something (general manager) Mike Dunleavy and I talk about on a regular basis,” Kerr said. “We’ve had guys that have helped in that regard, maybe not from the fifth spot (like) Otto Porter and Beli (Nemanja Bjelica) in 2022. Both guys really stretched the floor for us, and you could feel the difference.”
Post played just seven minutes in the fourth quarter, but scored six points — including his first NBA 3-pointer.
“When you see him come out and space the floor, you see the impact of having big space,” Kerr said. “You just pick and pop, and suddenly the whole lane opens up. That is a beautiful sight for us. It’s something we don’t normally have.
“We generate a lot of our offense through our movement and split cuts and stuff. If Quentin can develop, he could be a real threat for us and give us a completely different look offensively.”
It’s not hard to extrapolate four words in that answer: If Quentin can develop – as a plea for a big man who can shoot. Someone who can provide a dimension not accessible to starting centers Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney. Someone who can do immediately what Post could ever deliver.
Vučević, 34, is averaging 20.2 points per game for the Chicago Bulls. He is shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including a career-best 42.4 percent from beyond the arc. He is one of four centers in the league averaging more than 20 points and more than 10 rebounds, while also shooting at least 40 percent from deep.
The other three: Nikola Jokić of Denver, three-time MFP, Karl-Anthony Towns of New York, four-time All-Star and Domantas Sabonis of Sacramento, three-time All-Star.
If you want to add a player who can make an immediate impact for the Warriors, you’ll have to part with some future draft capital and multiple players. Vučević is making $20 million this season and will increase to $21.5 million in 2025-2026, the final season of his contract.
Kerr visualizes the offensive advantage that comes with a center who can drain triples. It would make life easier for Curry and Green, two veterans who will certainly remain with the Warriors past the trade deadline.
The Warriors hope the players were solid enough against the Pacers to become more attractive to potential trade partners. On a night built on defeat, at a time when they are actively shopping, it serves a purpose.
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