**Proposed Trade: Warriors Acquire $60 Million 2-Time All-Star Vučević for Wiggins**
The Golden State Warriors might undergo significant changes next season, banking on their young talent to reestablish themselves as contenders. With NBA free agency slowing down, the Warriors could explore the trade market for improvements.
Bleacher Report’s Allen Stiles suggested a potential trade where the Warriors acquire Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vučević by sending Andrew Wiggins to Chicago.
This deal would make more sense if the Bulls manage to trade Zach LaVine. Currently, Chicago would need to add more salary to comply with cap rules.
“You know Vučević can score and rebound,” Stiles said during a July 17, 2024, live stream. “The Warriors get bigger, and the Bulls get Andrew Wiggins, who might need a fresh start. Wiggins has three years left on his four-year, $109 million contract. If the Bulls can trade LaVine and lose a pick, Wiggins could be a good fit as a Zach LaVine alternative.”
**Vučević as an Alternative to Markkanen for the Warriors**
Trading for Vučević would be a more affordable option than targeting Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen. While Vučević doesn’t have Markkanen’s potential, he is less expensive in two key ways.
Golden State wouldn’t have to part with as many assets as they would for Markkanen, who is also expected to receive a lucrative contract extension. Vučević, on the other hand, has two seasons left on a three-year, $60 million contract, with a $20 million cap hit for 2024-25. Last season, he averaged 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in 76 appearances.
**Warriors Likely to Explore Wiggins Trades**
Trading Wiggins would also save costs for the Warriors. Wiggins has three seasons remaining on a four-year, $109 million deal, with a $26.2 million cap hit next season. At 29, he still has a lot to offer but may benefit from a fresh start.
The Warriors did not permit Wiggins to play for Canada in the 2024 Olympics. The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported that the Warriors might explore trading Wiggins this offseason.
“League sources believe Andrew Wiggins will be included in trade talks this summer as the Warriors look to improve their roster,” Murdock wrote in an April 17 article, “What Will Become of the Golden State Warriors?” During the 2022 title run, Wiggins was arguably Golden State’s second-best player, averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in the playoffs, making timely shots and playing great defense in the Finals.
The Warriors signed Wiggins to a four-year, $109 million extension in 2022, but his tenure has been frustrating since then.
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