SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State sits trapped in the center of the Western Conference. The team many projected as a top-four contender has opened with a flat 10-10 record and already trails the Houston Rockets by four games. The loss to a short-handed Rockets team cut deeper than usual because it revealed how an undermanned opponent can now expose Golden State’s limitations. Their small-ball identity no longer bends matchups or creates nightly advantages. The league has grown bigger, faster and far more physical. Golden State must adapt or face a slow slide toward irrelevance. That tension now drives every decision inside the franchise, but a recent decision looms even larger as a huge miss. The Warriors made a big mistake when they engaged in trade talks with Utah for Lauri Markkanen.
Warriors Shoot Themselves In The Foot In Lauri Markkanen Talks
A Shrinking Margin and a Tight Window
Steph Curry remains brilliant, but he cannot anchor the offense every night. Jonathan Kuminga’s injury exposed structural issues that lingered beneath early wins. The bench lacks size, physicality and consistent scoring. Golden State has won once in its last five games, and Curry’s recent quad contusion adds pressure at the worst possible time as he’s expected to miss over a week. Their early-season burst masked the flaws now shaping their identity. This roster is too small and too dependent on Curry. It also struggles to match the athleticism of stronger Western teams.
Why Markkanen Looked Like the Perfect Fit
The Warriors once dictated pace and shape with small-ball lineups. Opponents now exploit mismatches, dominate rebounds and hunt Golden State’s weaker defenders. The Warriors need length, switchability and reliable scoring. Markkanen checks every box. He is an above-the-rim 7-footer who shoots threes at an elite rate. He’s averaging 28.5 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 37.7 percent from deep and 89.3 percent at the line. He attempts 8.9 threes per game and bends defenses the moment he crosses half court. Curry would benefit immediately from that gravity.
Lauri Markkanen’s skill set fits the Warriors on paper, but trade talks have since stalled. According to multiple reports, the Warriors reportedly offer Moses Moody and several draft picks to the Jazz. Then-second year guard Brandin Podziemski was off the table.
Utah’s Leverage and the Market Reality
The new obstacle is Utah’s mindset. The Jazz lose enough to stay in the race for a top pick but produce enough to showcase Markkanen’s value. They want immediate contributors in return. Their negotiations with the Pistons has revealed how high their asking price is.
According to Marc Stein, Utah is open to moving Markkanen only for a significant package, and any deal “would almost certainly have to include 22-year-old guard Ausar Thompson.” Golden State cannot match that tier of prospect even with optimism around Kuminga.
Markkanen agreed to a five-year, $238 million deal in 2024, keeping him under contract through 2028-29. His salary increases each year, which heightens Utah’s leverage and the price of any offer. Stein reported that “The Jazz hope to be competitive in 2026-27 and have signaled to rival teams that any trade offers they are prepared to consider, whether they target Markkanen or otherwise, have to keep them competitive.” That stance strengthens Utah’s negotiating position.
Limited Assets and a Risky Future
Golden State can trade only three first-round picks outright. They can add three pick swaps and two second-rounders, but they do not control any external first-round selections. Zach Lowe predicted that Utah might ask for at least four picks and four swaps for Markkanen. The actual cost may land lower, but even a three-pick offer would push Golden State into a dangerous future as the franchise nears a post-Curry era. The franchise risks overcommitting and leaving little protection for a necessary rebuild.
For now, the Warriors must confront the consequences. They saw a perfect fit in Markkanen, delayed and now lack the assets to close the deal. The window narrows and the missed opportunity lingers.
Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
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