Scotto’s latest: Warriors, Vucevic, Centers, Connaughton, Suns

After telling reporters earlier this week that he doesn’t want to warrior making a “desperate” trade that jeopardizes the team’s long-term future in favor of short-term gain, Stephen Curry clarified Wednesday that his comments don’t mean he’s content playing on a .500 team that isn’t trying to improve.

“Anyone who thinks I’m fine being on an average basketball team is crazy,” Curry said, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Take what I said, I still stand by it. But that doesn’t mean we’re not in a situation where we’re trying to get better and take appropriate steps to help you do that. (Chief Executive Officer) Mike (Dunleavy Jr.) knows that. We talked about it. That is the expectation of me. That doesn’t mean you’re reckless.”

As Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, Dunleavy and the Warriors are actually exploring their options on the trade market, with a focus on improvements up front rather than on the wing. Golden State has looked at centers like this Nikola Vucevic, John Collins, Jonas ValanciunasAnd Robert Williamssaid Scotto, who states that the team has an equal chance of making a trade for a forward Jimmy Butler or Cameron Johnson have declined.

While the Warriors want to give Curry and Draymond Green They have no chance of competing for another title, but they won’t mortgage their future to make it happen, Scotto writes, adding that the front office is still not ready to part ways with the forward Jonathan Kuminga.

Here’s more from Scotto:

• Scotto examines the trade market for centers and says some NBA executives are confident in it Bulls could land a first-round pick in a deal for Vucevic, who is having a strong season in Chicago. The wizard And Trailblazer They are expected to command second-rounders Valanciunas and Williams, respectively, while Collins’ value is difficult to determine given the $26.6 million player option, Scotto notes jazz Big Man holds for 2025/26.
• Rival executives who have spoken to Scotto are monitoring the situation dollar wing Pat Connaughton as a trade candidate, as Milwaukee could drop below the second tax threshold and create more flexibility on the roster by waiving his $9.4 million salary. Connaughton is having a down year and holds a $9.4 million player option for 25/26, so the Bucks would have to add draft picks and/or cash to get rid of him. While the Bucks can’t trade cash while they stay above the second frontcourt, they could do so in a trade that brings them below that threshold.
• After trading for Nick RichardsThe Suns Measurements are expected to continue Jusuf Nurkic“s trade market and are trying to negotiate a Butler deal while looking for win-now upgrades, Scotto writes. Scotto points out that role players Royce O’Neale And Grayson Allen Both would have positive value as trade chips, but there was no indication that Phoenix was interested in moving either player.