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By Nelson Espinal
Contributing Sports Reporter
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The Golden State Warriors are 9-9 entering Sunday's slate of games, sitting in eighth place and right in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The season has not gone to plan for the Warriors, though they have dealt with injuries to Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga early on in the season.
More news: Warriors Expected to Consider Trade for $186 Million All-Star Center
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The roster has not been able to stay healthy, but the second season of Butler in Golden State is beginning to show some fault lines on the team.
The Warriors are making a push to maximize the current veteran core of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr.
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Luckily, the Warriors still have a path to improve their roster through a meaningful trade if the front office believes they can make a push this year.
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ESPN's Bobby Marks listed out a potential trade package that they can put together for a meaningful player.
"Last February, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. was able to put together a package of contract and draft assets to acquire Butler. Despite sending their 2025 first-rounder to Miami, the Warriors still have access to four first-round picks to trade," Marks wrote.
"The Kuminga signing at the onset of training camp gives Golden State a valuable $22.5 million trade option, and Kuminga is trade-eligible starting Jan. 15. Because they are hard-capped at the second apron, Golden State is not allowed to take back more salary sent out in a trade.
"Besides Kuminga, the Warriors have about $24.5 million in salary consisting of guards Moses Moody ($11.6 million), Buddy Hield ($9.2 million) and Podziemski ($3.7 million). They have only one second-round pick available."
The landscape of tradeable players remains unclear as the season unfolds, but a star player like Lauri Markkanen could be on the market for the Warriors.
He fits their system perfectly, and while he does have serious defensive liabilities, Markkanen could further unlock their offense and elevate them into the top echelon of the NBA.
Golden State could also opt to keep its resources, regroup, and go again next year, though its aging core may require immediate action.
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