The Golden State Warriors could be making a move for PJ Washington in the offseason. The Warriors are reportedly looking to bolster their squad in an attempt to maximize the time that Stephen Curry has left to win a championship. Steve Kerr has implemented a system that has turned the Golden State Warriors into one of the dominant forces in the NBA. He oversaw a revolution in San Francisco that saw the Golden State Warriors win 5 Championships since 2015. Now the Warriors are looking for that last piece in the puzzle that could get them back to the top of the basketball world. Could that be PJ Washington?
Why are the Golden State Warriors looking to trade for PJ Washington?
The last time that Golden State won the NBA Finals was back in 2022. The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics to earn their fourth title in eight years. The system and playing style that Steve Kerr pioneered had a profound effect on how the game of basketball has evolved since he joined Golden State. Up until that point, the emphasis was on getting into the paint to score.
The duo that was the “Splash Brothers”(Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) was so effective in scoring from the perimeter that the other teams in the NBA simply could not stop them from winning. Since that last Finals win in 2022, Golden State has seen a drop in its performance. No doubt due to Klay Thompson opting to make the move to the Dallas Mavericks, splitting up the most effective shooting pair in the NBA.
The Warriors aimed to evolve once again by signing young stars like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. Moody in particular held some promise for Golden State as they needed a effective big man to complement Steph’s playing style and shooting tendencies. But Kuminga and Moody have not performed as hoped, which has led to the Warriors looking elsewhere for that elusive skilled big man.
What are the details of this possible trade between the Warriors and Mavericks?
The trade is still in its infancy, as neither team has commented on the possibility of it happening. But with the established trade relationship that the Golden State Warriors and the Dallas Mavericks have, PJ Washington would be an obvious choice. The star two-way forward has $46,500,000 due to him in his contract, regardless of where he’s playing.
The trade would see PJ Washington swapping the big skies of Texas for the sunshine of California, if it were to happen. Moses Moody has performed well for the Warriors; however, not to the level needed to support Stephen Curry and give him the space he needs to operate. So, Moody would be the best trade option for the Warriors to offer the Dallas Mavericks, who are also in an evolution of sorts, since the Luka trade.
During the playoff defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the lack of protection for Curry was evident. The Warriors never seemed like the team that lit up the NBA with their record-breaking three-point shooting. PJ Washington could offer that essential protection and defense that the skilled forward brings to the team. His numbers are impressive, averaging 14 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Will the Golden State Warriors return to the pinnacle of the NBA?
Stephen Curry is not a young man by any stretch of the imagination, however, he has maintained his fitness and scoring abilities to such a point that we can not see the two-time MVP not winning at least one more NBA Championship. If the trade were to happen, PJ Washington could join a team that is desperate for that postseason winning feeling that they know so well. With the majority of the teams in the NBA focusing on the draft, Golden State could pull off the trade of the year if the two parties can come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
