The Golden State Warriors have seriously limited interest in Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner. Seriously limited. Why? Because the team is apparently super reluctant to commit to any long-term contracts, especially with what could be Stephen Curry’s final seasons on the horizon, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer on The Stein Line’s Substack. We thought two weeks ago The Athletic’s Jake Weinbach reported the Warriors were even talking to the Bucks about a Kristaps Porziņģis trade that could have included Turner. But nah, Fischer’s sources are saying “Myles Turner is not high on their list of potential targets.” What a twist, right?
The Turner Price Tag and the Porziņģis Puzzle
So, what’s up with this sudden cold shoulder for Turner? It comes down to the dollars and cents, obviously. Turner’s playing this season with a $26.6 million cap hit, and he’s locked in through at least the 2027-28 season, with a $29 million player option for 2028-29. That’s a serious commitment! Fischer reported the Warriors were way more into Turner back when he was with the Indiana Pacers and on a much lower salary. Now? Golden State would expect “draft capital or other forms of incentive” just to take on his deal. It’s not just Turner either; ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported the Warriors are not even sending salary payments to Porziņģis right now, but they’re still “exhausting trade avenues” for the veteran. Talk about complicated!
Golden State’s Big Picture Trade Playbook
Here’s the kicker: The Warriors haven’t made any big commitments to anyone outside of Curry past the 2026-27 season. Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are both set to hit unrestricted free agency after that 2026-27 season. That’s a lot of future flexibility they want to keep. Fischer’s sources are saying Golden State *is* ready to dish out draft capital and take on future money this season if the deal brings back a “worthwhile” trade target. The catch? Apparently, there are “relatively few players” who actually fit that description. They even reached out to the Chicago Bulls about Jalen Smith and his expiring contract, but the Bulls might not want to tank with those new NBA draft lottery rules messing with teams at the bottom. It’s a tightrope walk for general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
They opened the season with three straight losses, which felt like a gut punch, but they’ve turned it around with a five-game win streak heading into Thursday night’s game against the visiting Miami Heat. How Dunleavy Jr. assesses that frontcourt depth, especially with Jimmy Butler’s winter return from his right ACL injury coming up, will be huge. That assessment could totally decide if the Warriors restrict their future salary cap by making a big swing at the February 11 trade deadline. Keep an eye on that Heat game, because every win matters right now for how they approach that deadline.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply