Mike Dunleavy Jr. said something during his latest Warriors press conference that caught my attention: Golden State had to choose between “talent and availability” when constructing this roster — and leaned toward talent.
So I wondered: Who exactly was he talking about?
Not Steph Curry. Draymond Green worked with the Warriors to create financial flexibility. Moses Moody makes about $12.5 million and is injured himself. And moving an injured Jimmy Butler at nearly $57 million for healthier pieces becomes extremely difficult.
Which brought me back to Kristaps Porzingis...
👇 SYNOPSIS CONTINUED BELOW 👇
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YOUTUBE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE:
https://youtu.be/U9X5-HAi1Vg
(Entire Dunleavy transcript/timestamps can be found here)
THIS ORIGINALLY APPEARED LIVE HERE:
https://youtube.com/live/qdQn6Q1PCYI
👇
To be clear: I am NOT reporting that the Warriors tried to trade Porzingis. This is a thought experiment — reverse-engineering Dunleavy’s comments and asking what Golden State’s alternative might have looked like.
Porzingis is essentially a $20 million-per-year player, so I searched NBA salaries for combinations of healthier players around that number.
Possibilities included Payton Pritchard + Sam Hauser, Day’Ron Sharpe + Keon Ellis, Isaac Okoro + Jalen Smith, Max Strus + Thomas Bryant, and Kevin Porter Jr. + Caris LeVert.
Once you name the players, match salaries, preserve draft picks and find another team willing to say yes, “talent over availability” starts making more sense.
A healthy Kristaps Porzingis gives Golden State a 7'3" floor-spacer who can alter the offense and give Steph Curry a unique weapon.
But the first two words matter: a healthy Kristaps.
If KP isn't available when Golden State needs him, Dunleavy's gamble may fail. But if he's healthy in April and May? The Warriors may be glad they didn't turn one high-upside $20 million player into two lesser players just to “do something.”
Then there’s optionality. If Golden State must take back longer contracts or attach valuable picks, the return needs to improve its championship odds. Otherwise, preserving flexibility for another pivot around Steph next summer may be more valuable.
BONUS: After the 11-minute essay, hear Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s COMPLETE ~30-minute Warriors press conference, covering Steph Curry, Porzingis, Al Horford, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, trades, injuries, draft picks and more.
Chapters
(00:00) Dunleavy: Warriors chose “talent over availability”
(02:23) Who was he actually talking about?
(03:15) Why Kristaps Porzingis becomes the obvious thought experiment
(03:54) Why trading Jimmy Butler is so difficult
(04:40) The $20 million KP experiment
(05:22) Boston: Pritchard + Hauser?
(05:41) Brooklyn: Sharpe + Ellis?
(06:36) Chicago and Cleveland alternatives
(07:15) Why Indiana doesn’t make sense
(07:43) Milwaukee: Kuzma, LeVert and other possibilities
(08:31) Why “talent over availability” starts making sense
(09:36) The gamble: “a healthy Kristaps”
(10:21) Why optionality matters
(11:00) COMPLETE Mike Dunleavy Jr. Warriors press conference
Keywords: Kristaps Porzingis, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Golden State Warriors, Warriors trade, Warriors salary cap, Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Al Horford, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Porzingis trade, Dub Nation, Let’s Go Warriors
