NBA Rumors: The two stars that Golden State Warriors have rejected

The Golden State Warriors continue to explore ways to improve their roster, but it seems that Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram are not on their radar. According to Shams Charania, Tony Jones, and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors have shown no interest in engaging in trade talks for either of these players at this time.

The team has unsuccessfully tried to make a big move so far. According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, the Warriors "believed" on multiple occasions before free agency that they could finalize a trade for Paul George with Los Angeles Clippers, before he decided not to renew his contract.

Lauri Markkanen, an Impossible Option

Lauri Markkanen has been a frequent target for the Warriors, but Charania, Jones, and Slater pointed out that the Finnish player is expected to sign a long-term, high-value contract extension with the Utah Jazz. This agreement, which will be signed on Wednesday or later, will make him ineligible to be traded during the 2024-25 season.

Limited Options

Assuming any chance of a trade for Markkanen fades, the options for the Warriors to significantly improve their talent pool are limited. LaVine and Ingram are likely the two best players who could be available for a trade, but they have some limitations that any interested team must consider.

Limitations of Zach LaVine and Brandon Ingram

LaVine is coming off a foot injury that required surgery and limited him to just 25 games last season. He has an $89 million contract for the next two years and a player option of $49 million for the 2026-27 season.

On the other hand, Ingram has only one year left on his current contract with a salary of $36 million. In July, Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported that Ingram wants a maximum extension that would pay him $208 million over four years.

Offseason Moves

Despite losing Klay Thompson in free agency, the Warriors have had a solid offseason. They have added De'Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Anderson. While none of these players are stars, they provide much-needed depth to the roster.

The Warriors are currently below the two tax levels, so they could package several contracts to acquire a star if one becomes available during the season.

LaVine and Ingram's Performance in the 2023-24 Season

LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game in 25 appearances with the Chicago Bulls last season. Ingram ranked second on the New Orleans Pelicans with 20.8 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game in 64 games during the 2023-24 campaign.

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