OVERVIEW:

Trade 1: Warriors Get: Cameron Johnson Nets Get: De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, 2026 FRP, 2 SRPs

Why the Warriors Do It: The Warriors are currently missing a true second option for Steph. Although Cam isn't exactly that, when combined with Hield, Wiggins and Kuminga, the Warriors have four players capable of giving a supplemental 20. With four players all averaging around an extra 15 points, Steph gets a plethora of third options instead of a true second and gets one more dynamic shooter and defender. His fit with Draymond Green, who is now a capable shooter but not exactly a floor stretcher, is immaculate and if played with Steph and Hield makes it impossible for defenses to pick a player to guard on the perimeter. It makes for an easy pick and roll with Green or Wiggins, who can slash to the paint and pass it out to one of three 38%+ three-point shooters.

Why the Nets Do It: The Nets are too good right now for them to be where they want to be for the future. Cam's 18 ppg are a big part of that, and in this trade they get back Melton's expiring salary, a non-burden filler and mentor in Anderson, and a first that comes in Steph's age 38/39 season along with two seconds. It's fair value for Cam and there's a reasonable chance that first produces a cornerstone for Brooklyn while gaining financial flexibility.

Trade 2: Warriors Get: Walker Kessler Jazz Get: Brandin Podziemski, 2028 FRP

Why the Warriors Do It: Through their early season ups and downs, even through the majority of their championship seasons, one fact has remained: the Warriors get dogged on by centers, apart from clutch time where Draymond Green plays top 5 all-time level defense to stop the Jokics and Giannis' of the world. Walker Kessler is a walking double-double who adds 3 blocks a game. There's not a player in the league who's scoring on him and Draymond in the paint, and he provides a finishing and rebounding element Golden State didn't have earlier. More importantly, his fit is immaculate - his screen-setting along with him being the only non-shooter on this new Warriors lineup means he is free to develop and wreak offensive havoc as well, becoming what Zubac is on the Clippers currently.

Why the Jazz Do It: The Jazz and Danny Ainge were very sweet on Podz over the offseason during the Lauri Markannen debacle and Kessler has been on the rumor mill for a while now due to making the Jazz a little too good. Getting a good all-around guard that Ainge likes, along with a 2028 FRP that will come when Steph has to rely on walking sticks to get around means that they get appropriate value for the Gobert-level defensive talent they're giving up.

Warriors New DC: PG: Stephen Curry, Gary Payton II, Lindy Waters II SG: Andrew Wiggins, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody SF: Cam Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga PF: Draymond Green, Kevon Looney C: Walker Kessler, Trayce Jackson-Davis

PS: Who the hell is scoring on Wiggins, Cam, Green and Kessler lol, there is not an team in the league that's hanging up 120+ on this lineup in a game. Ridiculous. Also shortens the Warriors rotation a little, although not by much, since Golden State provides good value while also keeping most of their important young players.