Jaren Jackson Jr., the dude who snagged the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, was apparently *this close* to rocking a Golden State Warriors jersey at last year’s trade deadline. This whole story recently leaked from the Warriors’ notoriously chatty front office, painting yet another frustrating picture of what could have been. Anthony Slater reported that Golden State was “exploring a trade” for the defensive powerhouse, but predictably, it didn’t happen. The Memphis Grizzlies ultimately shipped Jackson Jr. off to the Utah Jazz instead.
The Deal They Couldn’t Close
So, what did it take for the Jazz to land Jackson Jr.? They coughed up a hefty package: three first-round picks, two former first-round picks, Kyle “Slo Mo” Anderson, and a player now known as “new Warrior Georges Niang.” Georges Niang is a Warrior now, but surprisingly, he didn’t even hit the court for *either* the Jazz or the Grizzlies last season after that deal went down. Wild, right? Jackson Jr. himself commanded a $35 million salary last season. The real question here is the “could they have matched it” part. Speculation is swirling that yes, they absolutely could have. A combination of Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield would have come close to matching Jackson Jr.’s salary, and three future Warriors first-round picks are probably a better haul than what the Jazz got from the Lakers next season, or even the Suns’ pick way out in 2031. This screams missed opportunity, leaving you wondering what in the heck went wrong.
The Never-Ending List of Almost-Warriors
This “almost” narrative is par for the course with Golden State. Their front office has built a legacy on coming “oh-so-close” to landing superstar talent, whether through trades or free agency, only for the deals to fizzle out. We’ve heard this broken record countless times before. Think about the sagas with LeBron James and Kevin Durant, or the whispers around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brandon Ingram, Lauri Markkanen, and Kawhi Leonard. They even “almost” got Meadowlark Lemon and Air Bud! It’s baffling. Someone, or multiple someones, in that front office seem to believe revealing their failed plans somehow makes the Warriors look good. Sure, every team “explores” trades, but Golden State is an open book about serious attempts that never materialize.
What This Means For Their Future
Whether this Jaren Jackson Jr. pursuit was a real possibility or just an “MDJ + JJJ” doodle in Mike Dunleavy Junior’s journal, the Warriors dropped the ball. They simply couldn’t outmaneuver the Jazz, and couldn’t even make a convincing case that living in San Francisco beats Salt Lake City for Jackson Jr. This pattern of publicly broadcasting their misses raises serious questions. Are they truly serious about making those blockbuster moves, or is it more about the talk than the walk? It’s a frustrating look, making you question their ability to build around their core.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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