The Golden State Warriors made headlines at the trade deadline, swinging a bold deal to bring in Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks while sending Jonathan Kuminga the other way. It’s a move that signals urgency from a team that’s looking to climb the Western Conference standings and reassert itself as a playoff threat. But don’t expect the Warriors to stop there - they’re eyeing the buyout market next, with veteran point guard Lonzo Ball firmly on their radar.
Ball became available after being waived by the Utah Jazz following a deadline-day trade. The Warriors, in need of backcourt depth, are considering him as a potential addition to help stabilize their rotation.
Alongside that pursuit, Golden State is also working to convert Pat Spencer’s two-way contract into a standard NBA deal - a necessary step if they want him eligible for postseason play. Spencer has carved out a meaningful role this season, and locking him into a full roster spot would reflect the team’s growing confidence in his contributions.
As for Ball, it’s been a winding road. He started the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers after an offseason trade from the Chicago Bulls that involved Isaac Okoro.
The hope was that Ball would provide steady minutes as a backup point guard, but things didn’t quite click in Cleveland. After 35 games - including three starts - the Cavs moved him to Utah at the deadline, where he was quickly bought out.
Statistically, this has been a tough year for Ball. He’s averaging a career-low 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while logging just over 20 minutes a night.
His shooting splits tell the story of a player still trying to find his rhythm: 30.1% from the field, 27.2% from three, and 66.7% from the line. For a player once known for his court vision and defensive instincts, the numbers show a clear gap between expectation and execution - but they also reflect a player still working his way back from significant injuries.
This is Ball’s seventh NBA season, but it’s his first healthy one since 2021-22. He missed back-to-back years - the entire 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons - due to multiple knee surgeries that cast doubt on whether he’d ever return to form. The fact that he’s back on the court at all is a testament to his resilience, even if the production hasn’t caught up just yet.
For Golden State, the potential signing of Ball would be less about immediate impact and more about upside. If he can regain even a portion of the two-way playmaking that once made him such a valuable piece, he could offer a spark off the bench - especially for a team that’s been searching for stability behind its aging core.
The Warriors are clearly in go-mode. Porzingis gives them a new dynamic in the frontcourt, and Spencer looks like a playoff contributor in the making.
Adding Ball would be a calculated swing - low risk, with the potential for a solid reward if he can find his footing in Steve Kerr’s system. It’s not a blockbuster move, but in a wide-open Western Conference, every marginal gain matters.