Warriors are ‘delusional’ if they think trading for these two stars will save season

After starting the season 12-3 and in first place in the Western Conference for a time, the Golden State Warriors have begun their tailspin. They are now 19-20 on the year and on the outside of the playoff picture.

Even before their struggles really took off, they had been linked to some of the better players on the NBA trade block. After months of anticipation, they made the “blockbuster” move for Dennis Schröder, but are a measly 5-9 in games he has played.

The Warriors, chiefly, have been linked to Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram and Nikola Vučević, but in order to land any of those stars, they would likely have to part ways with Andrew Wiggins.

The 11th-year wing is averaging 16.5 points on 39.7% shooting from deep while being the Dubs’ best defender, so losing him for a slightly better player would keep them in the same spot.

One league insider thinks a desperate move would do little to save an already-lost season. 

“And the simple fact of the matter is it would be absolutely delusional for these Golden State veterans right now to be saying, ‘Hey, we got to make a move that'll vault us in the championship status,’” said ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on Wednesday’s episode of the Hoops Collective Podcast. 

“Is making some trade for Jimmy Butler going to salvage the situation? Zach LaVine? You can talk about it. They've got to get better. They've got to use these assets, but then you have to be able to answer: on what? What will get them where?”

Adding Butler or LaVine would only hurt the Warriors’ future flexibility, which both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have made clear they don’t want to do.

With limited sensible options and six of their next ten games coming up against teams above .500, the Warriors might have to scrap this season and call it the end of their era.

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