Proposed Trade Brings Myles Turner To Golden State To Replace Porzingis
The Golden State Warriors got the tough news recently that center Kristaps Porzingis might not be well enough to play again this season—if ever. He is considering retirement due to a severe flare-up of an autoimmune condition causing fatigue and breathing issues.
The Dubs were counting on the big man to fill the center spot for the coming year, but now are looking for a trade to offload his $20 million contract and bring in a replacement at the five.
The latest trade idea comes to us from Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report. He proposed a deal that would land the rim protection and floor spacing of Myles Turner from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Golden State Warriors receive:
- Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins
Milwaukee Bucks receive:
- Kristaps Porziņģis
- Moses Moody
- 2028 first-round pick
- 2031 first-round pick swap
Although it would come at a big cost, the Warriors would get a legitimate big man in Turner who can make a difference at both ends of the floor. He manned the middle for the Indiana Pacers in two consecutive long playoff runs before signing a big free agent deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer of 2025. He had a down year with his new team but is still only 30, and would be rejuvenated surrounded by Steph Curry and a team that hopes to make some noise this season.
For Rollins, it would be a return to where it all started for him. He broke out big-time with the Bucks last season, averaging 17 ppg with 5.6 assists while shooting over 40% from three.
"Between the scoring punch, the on-ball craft and the off-ball shooting threat, he could give this group a lot of what it's missing next to Curry at the moment," wrote Buckley.
Why the Bucks would do it
The Bucks would be getting out from under the $83M still owed Turner after their ill-advised signing. The team has no need for him with Giannis now gone and a rebuild underway.
It would be tough to move on from Rollins after his revelatory season at the point, but, per Buckley, "If nothing else, it would seem like a stretch for the Bucks to consider Rollins wholly off-limits given their need to stockpile assets for this top-to-bottom rebuild. And they'd walk (away) with a healthy haul here, getting a 2028 first and a 2031 first-round swap from a team with an uncertain present and a wholly unprepared future."
They'd also get some huge cap space freed up between Turner being gone and after Porzingis's $20M comes off the books after the season, with only a $3M guarantee on a player option next year.