The Golden State Warriors have won the NBA Championship in three of the last four seasons, and Steve Kerr's men are the heavy favorites to win a third consecutive title later this year. The Warriors entered the season with five active All-Stars on their roster, and it is an incredibly daunting task for rival teams to end Golden State's dominance.
Nevertheless, the Warriors have shown signs of vulnerability during the 18/19 season, and there are currently a number of emerging forces around the league including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors.
Teams around the NBA are currently gearing up to make a number of trades before the impending deadline, although the Warriors are confined by their luxury tax situation. Despite this, the Warriors may be open to making minor moves, and here we will look at three players that should be included in any trade talks.
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#3 Jordan Bell
Jordan Bell was a second-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft, and despite low expectations, Bell was able to contribute well from the Warriors bench during his rookie season. The 24-year-old averaged nearly 15 minutes-a-game and Bell impressed with his athleticism and dunking ability.
Nevertheless, Bell's progress has stalled during the current campaign, and the center has started just two games while averaging only 11 minutes per game from the bench. In addition to this, Bell hasn't performed well during his minutes on the court, and his shooting percentage from the field has fallen from 63% to 52%.
The Warriors are believed to be in the market for a backup center to DeMarcus Cousins, and with Kevon Looney able to fill in at center, it looks increasingly likely that Bell will be moved on at some point in 2019.
#2 Alfonzo McKinnie
Heading into the 18/19 season, Alfonzo McKinnie had played just 14 games in the NBA, all of which came from the bench with the Toronto Raptors last season. Nevertheless, the Warriors made the surprise decision to acquire McKinnie during the summer of 2018, and the 26-year-old has already appeared more than 40 times for Steve Kerr's team.
McKinnie has made a modest contribution from the bench, averaging 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per contest, although the small forward has been one of the worst three-point shooters on the team. Unfortunately for Mckinnie, there are currently better players available around the NBA that are available on similar salaries, and McKinnie may be allowed to leave before the deadline. Ultimately, McKinnie has shown that he belongs in the NBA, although his place on a Championship chasing team such as the Warriors is questionable.
#1 Shaun Livingston
Shaun Livingston has made a great contribution to the Golden State Warriors success since joining the team back in 2014, however, there is no doubting that the veteran is in decline. Livingston will turn 34 later this year, and he is currently enduring his worst season in a Warriors uniform. So far this season, Livingston is averaging just 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, and the 33-year-old is also shooting below 50% for the first time in his Warriors career.
Livingston has also failed to develop a three-point shot on a team that is built on shooting from beyond the arc, and the journeyman's time with the Warriors looks as though it should come to an end. Nevertheless, the Warriors will have a hard time finding a team to take on Livingston's $7.6 million contract for the 19/20 season, so the veteran could still stick around until the summer.
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