Dunleavy, Warriors willing to trade youngsters for right player

Dunleavy, Warriors willing to trade youngsters for right player originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Though the Warriors have long resisted the notion of making Jonathan Kuminga available in trade, that stance lost some of its power Thursday afternoon.

Kuminga and fellow members of Golden State’s young core – Trayce Jackson-Davis, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski – might not be on the market – but general manager Mike Dunleavy made it apparent that none is untouchable.

That any or all of them might be moved for the right return.

“It would have to be something that we felt would unequivocally change the trajectory of our franchise,” Dunleavy said.

Like, say, adding a nine-time NBA All-Star. Or someone voted six times to the All-NBA team. Or, maybe, a four-time All-Defensive team member.

Paul George is all those things in one. And the Warriors, according to league sources, are monitoring the George’s status with the Los Angeles Clippers. He can decline his $48.8 million player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent.

And the Clippers, according to president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, are bracing for that possibility.

“We’ve had ongoing conversations with Paul and Aaron Mintz, his agent,” Frank told reporters Thursday afternoon in LA. “We love Paul. We very much want to retain Paul.

“But we also very much understand and respect the fact this is a business. And players have a finite amount of time to be able to not just make the most amount of money but to be able to pursue whatever they want.”

George, who turned 34 last month, would be the most attractive available UFA on the market. LeBron James is not leaving the Los Angeles Lakers – not with his son, Bronny, coming aboard. Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey is a restricted free agent. James Harden simply is less attractive than George.

“We hope Paul’s decision is to be here,” Frank said. “He’s been awesome. He’s been an All-Star three of the five years. He’s one of the best two-way players in the league. He’s a terrific person, got a great family. We hope he’s…

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Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-06-28 04:30:44

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