SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Dunleavy Jr. isn’t so sure that a trade is the best way for the aging Warriors to improve.
That distinction, the second-year Warriors general manager said, belongs to internal improvements. Players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski taking a big developmental leap could make all the difference.
“I’m always a big player development guy,” Dunleavy said. “I think our younger players have a really good chance to get better — Podz, JK, Trayce, Moses. And then even our guys that we’ve had here for a while can get better. I think that’s got to be the main thing, and then from there you see what else is out there — can you make a move or a couple moves, do some stuff that enhances your team. That’s the one thing we’re hinging everything on.”
As it has for the past several years, the trick for the Warriors will be whether they can get enough development from their young core before their dynastic nucleus of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and (“hopefully”, in Dunleavy’s words) Klay Thompson diminishes.
Dunleavy is open about striking the balance between being patient and urgent. Pragmatic versus doing right by the superstars who lifted the franchise on their shoulders.
“As those guys kind of get a little bit older, we have to be mindful that at a point, maybe they’re not at a level to compete for a championship,” Dunleavy said. “I don’t think that point’s too near, but at some point it probably will be.”
Unless Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis are ready to play at a championship level, it makes sense to try to cash them in for a prime player who can augment Curry in the final two years of his contract.
Players in trade rumors this summer have included Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram.
But making trades isn’t always easy, Dunleavy noted. The new collective bargaining agreement — with punitive penalties for teams past aprons — makes trades more complicated in terms of matching salaries and offering future draft picks. Every front office has analytics departments to assess the value of players and exchanges, making fair deals hard.
“I don’t want to, like, get ahead of it and say there’s going to be some big move that we’re going to do and all that,” Dunleavy said. “Could be. If it’s there, great. But it’s not something that must happen.”
In the Warriors’ case, a deal would also likely require giving up young for old, cheap for expensive, future potential for past production.
Kuminga showed major strides last year as a slashing forward, particularly when Draymond Green was sidelined. He still needs to improve his defense, decision-making and outside shooting, but has all the tools to blossom into the kind of versatile wing every team covets.
Moody’s role has fluctuated drastically, but he has typically impressed when given a chance. Dunleavy noted the sample size isn’t as big as he’d like it to be, but the former Arkansas wing has shot 36% from 3 in all three of his NBA seasons while flashing strong on-ball defense.
Jackson-Davis and Podziemski, rookies last year, look foundational in their own rights — the former as a rotational center and the latter as a floor-spacing connector with room to grow into more on-ball playmaking.
“We really value those guys,” Dunleavy said. “We drafted them, we’ve grown them. They’ve played really well. We’re excited about them. A scenario to move them would take a lot. It’s important for us to be good now and also be good in the future. But the main thing is, we think those guys can contribute and help our group now. If that was not the case, we’d be more open to stuff. But it is, and we’re excited for those guys’ growth this year. I expect them to be with us.”
It’s easy to throw lots of cold water on that sentiment. For one, Dunleavy said around this time last year that he expected Jordan Poole to return, only to trade him days later.
“And I did at that point,” Dunleavy said Monday. “But this thing changes so quickly. Especially when there’s a deadline in place — a trade deadline, a draft, free agency, things change like that.”
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Regardless of what Dunleavy expects or how much he values the team’s young core, that’s the only certainty: things can change. Chris Paul’s contract guarantee date is Friday. Thompson’s free agency will heat up. The team brought back Kevon Looney, but can now include him and his $8 million salary in a trade. The Draft is Wednesday and Thursday. Teams are making calls all over the league.
Everything will be on the table for the Warriors, even possibly going against owner Joe Lacob’s public preference to dip under the luxury tax.
“I think it’s about being smart about it,” Dunleavy said of spending. “I think from that sense, if there’s a point to going over the tax, a point to going into one of the aprons, we will do it. Because the most important thing to (Lacob) is winning. He’s shown that.
“Joe may have an idea in mind about what he wants to spend, but when presented an opportunity to spend a lot of money and have a great team, I know what his answer’s going to be.”