The Golden State Warriors have ripped off eight straight wins after opening the season with three losses, and the early surge has them looking dangerous again. Even with that hot stretch, there’s still a sense that the roster isn’t finished, and that’s where the trade chatter starts to get loud.
Kristaps Porzingis is already being discussed as a possible move. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Golden State has begun looking into trade options for him as he deals with recurring symptoms tied to the autoimmune condition POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Charania wrote: “Golden State has started exploring trade routes for Kristaps Porzingis, who is now seriously contemplating his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), sources tell ESPN," ESPN's Shams Charania posted.
But Porzingis isn’t the only name in the mix. Draymond Green’s future has also become a real topic as the deadline approaches, and The Athletic’s Sam Amick said the Warriors are open to hearing offers.
“Of course they’re going to listen to deals about Draymond at the deadline. He (Draymond) knows that.
That possibility had been hanging over the season from the start. The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson has long viewed this as a potential turning point in Green’s run with the team, and he said, “It's probably six months left for the Draymond Green era," Thompson said."
He's on a one-year deal, $27.8 million, and doesn't have a no-trade clause, so that's a very tradable contract. It felt like this has been coming for a while, but this, the way (Warriors GM) Dunleavy was talking, and the way they positioned it, this feels like 'Alright, let's see where we are in February because if we're not where we need to be, then we're just going to start selling pieces off and starting over."
Green has been one of the defining pieces of the Warriors’ dynasty over the last decade, and nothing is official yet. Still, the possibility is there, and a contending team could see value in his experience and what he still brings on the floor.
There’s also a practical reason Golden State would consider it. Green is on an expiring deal, so a trade wouldn’t automatically close the door on a return next summer. If the sides wanted to, he could sign back with the Warriors.
The financial side matters too. Golden State wants a big summer in free agency, and moving Green’s contract could create more flexibility. Cap space was one of the things that limited the team in the past offseason.
The Warriors appreciate everything Green has done in the Bay Area, but they also know the clock is ticking on another title run with Curry. If dealing Green helps that pursuit, it’s a move the organization would have to weigh seriously.
In Other News...
Michigan State Opens Big Ten Play With A Frustrating New Concern
Michigan State opened Big Ten play with a result that felt equal parts encouraging and aggravating, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to Notre Dame at Compton Family Ice Arena. Shane Vansaghi supplied both Spartans goals, matching his career high, and Michigan State did enough in stretches to tilt the shot count 35-33 in its favor, but the night still ended with an empty feeling after a game that never quite turned into a win.
Adam Nightingale pointed to improvement in the second period, a sign the Spartans can build on as conference play settles in, but the bigger concern is how quickly a solid effort can still slip away. For a team trying to establish itself in the Big Ten, the margin for error is already thin, and this was the kind of frustrating opener that leaves Michigan State with more to clean up than celebrate. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Showed Something Important In Tough Purdue Loss
Michigan States volleyball team didnt get the result it wanted against No. 13 Purdue at the Breslin Center, but the Spartans did show they can hang with one of the Big Tens better teams. In a four-set loss, Michigan State got strong production from Zora Hardison, who finished with 14 kills, and Taylah Holdem, who turned in a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs.
The setback dropped Michigan State to 17-8 overall and 7-8 in conference play, while Purdue moved to 17-7 and 10-5 in the Big Ten. For a Spartans group trying to steady itself in league play, the encouraging part was less about the final score and more about the level of resistance it brought against a ranked opponent on its home floor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Fans Are Stuck Waiting On A Bizarre Game-Day Limbo
A strange bit of game-day uncertainty settled over East Lansing on Friday afternoon when Washingtons travel plans were thrown into limbo by a nationwide FAA ground stop on outgoing flights. The Huskies were supposed to leave Seattle for their scheduled matchup with Michigan State, but the delay came just before 4 p.m. ET and immediately complicated the logistics of getting the game on track.
For Michigan State fans, it is the kind of off-field wrinkle that can overshadow the usual pregame routine, especially with the situation still unresolved and no clear timeline for a fix. The travel restrictions are affecting multiple college football teams, but for now the Spartans and their supporters are left waiting to see whether Washington can make the trip and how the schedule might hold up. [Read more 🡒]