You don’t even need to decipher what’s happening with the Golden State Warriors. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler have both been open about why their teams are struggling to stack wins. For them, the defense is the problem.
On paper, the Warriors aren’t exactly the worst defensively, sitting 10th on that end. But when your stars keep hammering the same message, you know something is off. The Warriors cannot afford to sink in the tight Western Conference race. At some point, change has to be on the table to get them going.
It is no secret that a big star like Domantas Sabonis has been making noise on the Warriors’ radar. But an under-the-radar target like Nicolas Claxton might make more sense. Known for his rim protection, one NBA analyst sees him as an ideal target for the Warriors.
Per Eamon Cassels of Fansided:
“Fischer noted that Nikola Vucevic, Nic Claxton, Nick Richards, and Robert Williams III are all centers that could be traded. While Fischer didn’t list the Warriors as a landing spot for these big men, it’s easy to connect the dots.
A move like this to bolster the Warriors’ frontcourt depth could be more ideal in the end. Vucevic and Claxton deliver the most upside. Trading for one of these two players is also more likely to include Kuminga.
Claxton would give the Warriors an elite play finisher and rim protector. He has also displayed more passing feel this season, averaging 4.1 assists, which would allow him to fit in nicely with the Warriors’ system. The 26-year-old also gives the Warriors a long-term solution to their seemingly never-ending center problem. If I were the Warriors, Claxton would be my top target.”
