The Golden State Warriors, once a dominant force with four NBA championships in the past decade, currently find themselves in a different position.
With a current win-loss record of 12-14, they stand in 11th place in the Western Conference.
Most of the team is only one and a half years removed from their latest championship, but things have taken a dramatic shift since then that has led them to unfamiliar territory.
The Bay Area team should make some moves to bolster their roster if they want to be in contention for the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.
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3 Trades Golden State Must Make To Compete for 2023-24 NBA Championship
1. A role player big man
The Warriors's lack of size continues to be a problem for the team, and they should look at acquiring a big man to play a backup role who could give valuable minutes off the bench.
The team appears to be adhering to the small-ball philosophy that initially brought them dominance in the mid-2010s. Last season, their tallest player, center Kevon Looney, stood at 6-foot-9.
In recent seasons, the NBA has seen a resurgence in the significance of dominant big men, exemplified by the likes of the last five NBA MVPs: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid, who all excel inside.
This year, the Warriors added Dario Saric, who is 6-foot-10 but doesn't conform to the traditional big man archetype in the low post. They could look at possible candidates at the free agent market, such as Nerlens Noel, or even bring back someone like JaMychal Green.
2. A reliable second scoring option
Behind Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson has long been considered the Warriors' second scoring option.
However, following two significant injuries -- an ACL tear and an Achilles rupture, Thompson's offensive performance has become inconsistent. Additionally, he no longer exhibits the elite two-way defensive prowess he once had.
In recent years, Andrew Wiggins taken on that role, becoming the Warriors' undisputed second-best player during their 2022 championship campaign.
However, his performance has notably declined since last season, resulting in his recent demotion from the starting lineup to a bench role.
Outside of Curry, the Warriors lack potent and consistent offensive threats, making them predictable and vulnerable when the two-time MVP has an off-night.
3. Pascal Siakam
The potential solution to many of Golden State's challenges may lie in one player: Pascal Siakam.
Ironically, the 29-year-old played a crucial role for the Toronto Raptors in their victory over the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Finals and has consistently been a star for the Canadian franchise.
The 6-foot-8 power forward is an elite presence inside and on the boards, while being potent scoring threat on the offensive side of the ball.
The Cameroonian is on an expiring contract, and the Raptors are yet to sign him on a new deal, which could potentially mean that they could be dealing him ahead of the trade deadline.
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