The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, which means the rumor mill is abuzz.
Due to salary and asset constraints, it's unlikely the Golden State Warriors will be involved in any major trades this week -- at least directly, that is.
However, they may be in position to benefit from a trade that has already gone down.
The Mavericks and Knicks were involved in a trade last week that sent star big man Kristaps Porzingis from New York to Dallas for a package including center DeAndre Jordan and shooting guard Wesley Matthews.
According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Knicks have already begun canvassing the market for potential destinations to re-flip Matthews to, but in the event they are unable, teams are lining up in hopes Matthews makes it to the buyout market, including Golden State.
The Knicks are exploring the trade market for Wes Matthews before Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say, but there are also several antsy suitors hoping Matthews makes it to the buyout market. Among them: Houston, Oklahoma City, Toronto, Philadelphia and, yes, Golden State— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 4, 2019
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Matthews -- as well as Jordan -- would make plenty of sense for the Warriors if either was bought out by the Knicks. However, due mainly to the immediate success the Warriors and DeMarcus Cousins have experienced ever since his return to game action, Matthews would fill a greater need for Golden State, as things currently stand.
Not to mention, the Warriors never really replaced Patrick McCaw.
Playing in his 11th NBA season, Matthews, 32, averaged 13.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 44 games for the Mavericks before being traded to New York last week. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, he has the necessary size to fit in the Warriors' switch-heavy defensive scheme.
In order to be eligible to play in the postseason, a player must be bought out by their incumbent team prior to Mar. 1. With over three weeks to go until that deadline, the Warriors have the luxury of seeing how the trade deadline shakes out before determining which course of action -- if any -- makes the most sense as they pursue a fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals.
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Matthews has averaged 13.5 points per game in 32 career playoff contests, but he's never been on a team that made it past the conference semifinals.
If Matthews does end up on the buyout market, and eventually on the Warriors, he'd have to feel pretty confident that would change in the near future.
