The Golden State Warriors have a center problem, and if they go shopping for answers, Wendell Carter Jr. may make more sense than Myles Turner.
Turner has been the louder name in the conversation, helped by Golden State’s past interest, his similar salary and skillset, and the possibility he could become available in Milwaukee. But Carter, the Orlando Magic’s starting big, gives the Warriors a cleaner path if they decide to seriously pursue a trade.
Carter is on the first year of a three-year deal worth $18.1 million, which puts him below the $20 million the Warriors gave Kristaps Porzingis on his extension before free agency. That matters. Turner makes more than $6 million above Porzingis, which would make any deal with Milwaukee more complicated because Golden State would have to add another salary piece.
Orlando’s situation also makes Carter a real name to watch. The Magic are staring at a financial squeeze they have already acknowledged, and their decision not to extend young guard Anthony Black means the former top 10 pick is heading toward restricted free agency. At some point over the next 12 months, the roster math is going to force a decision.
That is where a Porzingis-Carter swap could come into focus. It would give Orlando a way out of the financial pressure ahead, while sending Golden State a starting center who can help right away at the one spot they need most.
The obstacle, of course, is that Orlando is a playoff-contending team. The Magic are not likely to part with their starting center for a player who may never play professional basketball again. For the deal to work, Golden State would probably need a third team to absorb Porzingis’ contract and draft capital, while Orlando gets a different big man on an expiring deal.
Carter is not the kind of move that changes everything by itself, but he checks a lot of boxes for this Warriors roster. He is 27, still in his prime, and fits an age group Golden State simply does not have much of on its veteran-heavy roster.
There is also some history here. The Warriors were linked to Carter before the 2020 NBA Draft, when there were suggestions they might trade the second overall pick to Chicago for Carter and the fourth pick.
And Carter opened the season looking every bit like a useful target. In the Magic’s 132-125 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, he finished with 22 points and seven rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting from the floor.
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Lendeborgs postgame remarks, though, quickly turned his debut into something bigger than a box score. He took aim at the NBAs culture of flopping and foul baiting, and he specifically singled out Lakers star Luka Doncic, giving an opening-night loss a dose of controversy that is likely to follow the Warriors well beyond one game. [Read more 🡒]