Warriors may have missed trade chance at deadline
Warriors beat writer Danny Emerman gives his thoughts on the NBA playoffs and beyond.
Editor's note:
Pascal Siakam made a handful of big plays down the stretch before Tyrese Haliburton's overtime game-winner gave the Pacers a 2-1 series lead over the Bucks. Siakam is now averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists through three playoff games.
Sounds like a guy the Warriors would've liked to have.
The Pacers acquired Siakam before the trade deadline for two bench players and three firstround picks — two of which will be in the twenties of this year's weak draft. Golden State could have beaten that.
The Warriors need to get bigger and more athletic. They need more twoway players who can create their own offense against mismatches next to Steph Curry. Siakam is that kind of player.
Siakam is what even the biggest Jonathan Kuminga believers hope Kuminga becomes, an All-Starlevel player who can give you 30 points on the biggest stages.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. said after the season that there wasn't anything on the table at the deadline that he wished he'd done in hindsight. Golden State was reportedly one of the teams involved in talks with Toronto about Siakam, the two-time All-NBA wing.
The Raptors might've preferred Indiana's draft capital-focused deal over one centered around Kuminga, who might be an awkward fit next to Scottie Barnes. Perhaps the Warriors weren't comfortable risking a piece of their future for a player who could either demand a max contract or walk in free agency this summer. Maybe Siakam's shaky outside jumper was too big of a turn-off.
There are always overlooked factors in trade hypotheticals, but missing out on Siakam seems like a misfire.
The good news is Dunleavy will probably get a chance at redemption this summer.
Another wing of similar caliber, Brandon Ingram, could become available because the Pelicans have emerging star Trey Murphy ready to supplant him. Ingram isn't on Siakam's level defensively, but he's a more gifted, efficient three-level scorer. He'd give Golden State a strong secondary option next to Curry, and he's still only 26 years old.
Again, Ingram is at the level Kuminga could reach in his prime. If they want to compete in the last two years of Curry's deal and end their dynasty with dignity — to borrow Steve Kerr's phrasing — the Warriors don't have time to wait for Kuminga to blossom.
Would Ingram vault the Warriors back into title contention? The talented Western Conference makes it tough. But the last time the Warriors had a small forward with scoring acumen like Ingram was when Kevin Durant was here. Ingram would take some of the burden off Curry and fit in any lineup. He'd be a legit No. 2.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob has proved he's committed to winning. Cashing in some of the young core for an injection of prime talent this summer is the only way to really try. It'll take a big swing, and the Warriors don't have to see another strike whizz past them. They don't have to make the same mistake twice.
Tea leaves
Speaking of Durant, the ex-Warriors star narrated a commercial for his KD 17 sneakers starring Thunder center Chet Holmgren.
Durant's post-Warriors career has included a failed superteam in Brooklyn and a trade demand to Phoenix, where another Big 3 is faltering. It takes a tin foil hat to read too deep into an ad spot, but could he be laying the groundwork for another move, this time back to Oklahoma City?
There are no public indications that Durant is unhappy in Phoenix.
He's still under contract through 2026. Demanding a trade is unlikely, but it has to be non-zero. Something doesn't smell right.
The Suns are facing a 3-0 series deficit to Minnesota. If they flame out, the noise will get louder on whether Durant might seek a new team.
Durant's desire for another title is clear. The Thunder, with Holmgren, MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, twoway wing Jalen Williams and a bushel of draft capital are much better positioned now and in the future than the Suns.
LeBron James made his homecoming with his return to Cleveland. Durant could do the same.
Clutch stuck, not sick
I have a feeling Curry won't be telling his grandchildren about the time he won the 2023-24 Clutch Player of the Year award.
Seriously, what are we doing here?
Every year, the leader in clutch scoring will win the honor. It's always going to go to one of the best players in the league, the same players who don't need another meaningless award collecting dust in their trophy cases. The league is just adding more legends' names — in this case, Jerry West — to trophies for which nobody asked.
Like the Pixar classic “The Incredibles” taught us: If everyone's super, no one is. If everything's awarded, nothing is.
Damning doom scroll
A camera caught D'Angelo Russell sitting alone on the Lakers bench, apparently scrolling on his cell phone as his teammates huddled during Game 3 of their series against Denver.
The scene said everything you need to know about Russell.
The point guard had arguably his best year, blocking out trade-rumor noise while putting together an efficient scoring season. His aloof playoff stinker is going to overshadow it.
It's a shame that now the two most defining moments of Russell's underwhelming career involve phone foul-ups.