NBA Mock Trade: Michael Porter Jr. Joins Steph Curry in High-Stakes Move as Warriors Give Up 2 Huge Young Pieces

NBA: Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors - Source: Imagn
NBA Mock Trade: Michael Porter Jr. Joins Steph Curry in High-Stakes Move as Warriors Give Up 2 Huge Young Pieces. [photo: Imagn]

Steph Curry’s quad injury, which will force him to miss “around a week,” according to ESPN, has heightened trade talks surrounding the Golden State Warriors. Even when Curry returns, some NBA insiders predict the Dubs will try to bolster the lineup with a trade. With only so many peak seasons left for the 37-year-old guard, the Warriors could try to maximize their championship window open with a trade.

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On Wednesday, Bleacher Report introduced a scenario where the Warriors could trade for Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. Getting Porter could be costly, though, as the Warriors could give up multiple players and draft capital. Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and a 2026 first-round pick could end up in Brooklyn to land MPJ.

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BR’s Zach Buckley explained why the Warriors could reboot the supporting cast around Steph Curry:

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“The Warriors could use someone who makes quicker decisions with the basketball and helps better space the floor. Someone like Porter, who was an ultra-efficient play-finisher alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in Denver. … Porter’s shot-making could be godsend for Golden State, which has struggled to find scoring around Stephen Curry.”
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In Porter’s last three seasons playing alongside Jokic and Murray, he averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He shot 49.2%, including a sizzling 40.1% clip from behind the arc.

The 6-foot-9 forward could reprise that role around Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler. He offers a much better floor-spacing game than Jonathan Kuminga, a career 32.4 shooter from 3-point distance.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr often avoids a lineup featuring Draymond Green, Butler and Kuminga at the same time. With Michael Porter Jr. taking over Kuminga’s spot, the Dubs continue to have size while the shooting efficiency improves.

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Steph Curry thrives even more with shooters around him

In Steph Curry’s four championships with the Warriors, he played with Klay Thompson in all of them. Curry also shared the floor with Kevin Durant in two of those seasons.

Thompson left the Warriors two seasons ago to play for the Dallas Mavericks, while Durant took his talents to Brooklyn in the summer of 2019. The Warriors’ replacements have not lived up to the lofty standards of their predecessors.

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Moses Moody has been inconsistent, while Jonathan Kuminga has hardly made an impact as a shooter. Buddy Hield shot 37.0% from deep last season but is now averaging 31.0% from the same distance.

The Warriors have often said that they want to keep Curry’s championship window open. Giving up Moody, Kuminga, Hield and a first-rounder to land Michael Porter Jr. could help them accomplish that goal.

Brooklyn Nets Nation! You can check out the latest Brooklyn Nets Schedule and dive into the Nets Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Michael Macasero
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