**The Desperation Golden State Warriors Trade That Would Actually Work**
The **Golden State Warriors**, a dynasty that has dominated the NBA over the past decade, are in an interesting position as they enter the 2025 season. With a core that has seen better days, including **Stephen Curry**, **Klay Thompson**, and **Draymond Green**, the Warriors are navigating the fine line between maintaining championship aspirations and developing their future. However, their window for another title is narrowing, and despite their well-established success, there’s increasing pressure for them to make significant changes to remain competitive.
As the Warriors continue to age and face a rapidly evolving NBA landscape, their traditional style of play, heavily reliant on perimeter shooting and fast-paced offense, is beginning to encounter roadblocks. Their championship aspirations still hinge on the performance of their Big Three, but injuries, inconsistent play, and the rise of young, hungry teams have left Golden State searching for answers. With this backdrop in mind, the Warriors are exploring potential moves to improve their roster, even if it means taking some risks.
In this article, we will dive into a potential desperation trade for the Warriors that could help them stay competitive in the short term while balancing the long-term future of the franchise. The trade we’re suggesting may seem bold, but it addresses several of the Warriors’ most pressing needs and would allow them to retool their roster for the upcoming seasons.
### **The Current State of the Golden State Warriors**
The **Golden State Warriors** have a championship pedigree, but the roster’s current composition is starting to show cracks. While **Stephen Curry** remains one of the best players in the NBA, his window for elite performance is undoubtedly closing. Now 36, Curry has shown few signs of slowing down, but father time is inevitable. With **Klay Thompson** recovering from major injuries and **Draymond Green** entering the twilight of his career, the Warriors’ core trio may not be as formidable as it once was.
What the Warriors need is a shake-up—a player who can contribute immediately and fit into their championship-contending timeline while still possessing enough youth to sustain the team beyond the current era of Curry, Thompson, and Green. Moreover, their bench depth and frontcourt rotation have been inconsistent, leading to struggles against the top-tier teams in the NBA. Without a significant roster change, the Warriors risk missing out on the postseason, or worse, getting eliminated early.
The need for **another scoring option**, **defensive help**, and a **dynamic playmaker** is evident. The Warriors have tried to address this in recent years with the addition of players like **Andrew Wiggins**, **Jordan Poole**, and **Kevon Looney**, but the lack of consistent contributions has left the team looking vulnerable against elite competition. So, what trade could the Warriors pursue that would address these needs while keeping them in title contention?
### **The Trade That Could Actually Work: Warriors Send Poole, Moody, and Future Picks for Pascal Siakam**
One trade that could provide the Golden State Warriors with the necessary firepower and flexibility is a move for **Pascal Siakam** of the **Toronto Raptors**. While the Raptors have gone through their own period of flux, **Siakam** remains one of the most versatile and impactful players in the league. At 29 years old, he still has a few years left in his prime and could fit seamlessly into the Warriors’ system.
The trade we’re proposing sees the Warriors sending **Jordan Poole**, **Moses Moody**, and future first-round picks to the Raptors in exchange for **Pascal Siakam** and a future second-round pick.
#### **Why the Warriors Would Do This Trade**
This trade represents a significant shift for the Warriors, as they would be parting ways with **Jordan Poole**, a young and talented player with a bright future ahead. However, Poole’s inconsistency has been an issue for Golden State, especially during crucial playoff moments. While Poole has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 2022 playoff performance that helped the Warriors win a title, he has struggled to find consistency and integrate with the Warriors’ ball-movement-heavy system. His defense has also been a concern, and despite his potential, the Warriors could consider moving on from him in favor of someone who can make an immediate impact.
**Moses Moody**, another young player, has shown promise, but with the Warriors in “win-now” mode, his potential may not be enough to keep him on the roster. Although **Moody** offers solid defense and the ability to shoot from the perimeter, his contributions have been inconsistent, and his growth has been stunted due to limited playing time behind the Warriors’ established stars.
What the Warriors gain in return is **Pascal Siakam**, one of the most complete forwards in the league. Known for his ability to score, rebound, and facilitate, Siakam would be a perfect fit for the Warriors’ system, which values versatility, ball movement, and defense. Siakam can provide scoring alongside Curry, while also contributing as a playmaker and defender. His ability to guard multiple positions and stretch the floor with his shooting would be invaluable for Golden State, especially as the Warriors look to compete against the league’s best teams.
In addition to Siakam, the Warriors would also receive a second-round pick, which could be used to further strengthen their roster through future moves. But it’s the addition of **Siakam** that would truly give the Warriors the upgrade they need.
#### **Why the Raptors Would Do This Trade**
For the **Toronto Raptors**, moving Siakam would be a tough decision, but it may ultimately be the right one as they look to retool their roster around younger pieces. Siakam, despite being one of their best players, is in his prime, and the Raptors may want to take advantage of his value before he hits the later stages of his career. The Raptors have been in flux, and the lack of clear direction has left them underperforming.
By acquiring **Jordan Poole**, the Raptors would gain a young, dynamic scorer who has the potential to become a franchise player in the future. Poole has shown he can light up the scoreboard, and with more consistent playing time, he could be a player that Toronto builds around. In addition, **Moses Moody** offers a solid two-way player who can provide shooting, defense, and playmaking potential in a versatile wing role.
Furthermore, the Raptors would acquire multiple future picks that they could use to continue their rebuild or acquire other assets. While the Raptors may not be contending for a championship in the immediate future, this trade would set them up for long-term success as they develop their young core and look for the next great era in Toronto basketball.
### **The Impact on the Warriors’ Roster**
If the Warriors were able to pull off this trade, the immediate impact would be significant. **Pascal Siakam** would provide the Warriors with an elite forward who can play both ends of the floor at a high level. His ability to create his own shot, score in transition, and defend multiple positions would elevate the Warriors’ play on both sides of the ball.
Siakam’s experience as a secondary scorer behind **Kawhi Leonard** in Toronto’s championship run would be invaluable in Golden State’s high-pressure playoff environment. His leadership, combined with Curry’s ability to take over games, would form a potent one-two punch that could rival any duo in the league. Additionally, Siakam’s versatile skill set would allow him to fit into the Warriors’ system, which has always been about ball movement, spacing, and taking advantage of mismatches.
With **Siakam** in the lineup, the Warriors would become even more dynamic offensively, as his ability to space the floor and score in a variety of ways would complement Curry and Thompson’s shooting. Defensively, Siakam would add much-needed length and versatility, allowing the Warriors to match up with teams like the **Denver Nuggets**, **Phoenix Suns**, and **Milwaukee Bucks** that feature elite frontcourt players.
### **Long-Term Benefits**
While the Warriors are undeniably in a “win-now” mode, this trade also provides long-term benefits. Siakam’s contract, which runs through the 2025-26 season with an option for the following year, allows the Warriors some flexibility. They could potentially re-sign him to a long-term deal if his fit with the team is successful. More importantly, this move would allow Golden State to maintain its championship window for at least another few years while setting themselves up for the future.
The addition of a player like **Siakam** also gives the Warriors the option to move pieces around in future trade scenarios, adding to their already valuable assets. While they part with **Poole** and **Moody**, they gain a player who can help them contend for titles right now, which is the most important consideration for a team with the Warriors’ pedigree.
### **Conclusion**
The **Golden State Warriors** are at a crossroads, with their championship window still open but slowly closing. In order to stay competitive and contend for another title, the Warriors need to make a bold move. Trading for **Pascal Siakam** would be that move. By sending **Jordan Poole**, **Moses Moody**, and future picks to the **Toronto Raptors**, the Warriors would acquire a versatile, dynamic forward who can help take their game to the next level. This trade addresses several of the Warriors’ pressing needs and provides them with the tools necessary to remain in the hunt for championships while balancing their long-term future.
