The Golden State Warriors are expected to make a move before the NBA trade deadline. Golden State is reportedly open to using their trade exceptions or dealing almost any player - including forward Harrison Barnes - to bolster the depth of their bench.
"According to a person with knowledge of the Warriors' situation, Golden State is on the lookout for bench help and is hoping to use its trade exceptions as a way to facilitate such a deal that would likely need to involve three teams," Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports wrote on Wednesday. "... Rival executives told USA TODAY Sports last week that anyone outside of point guard Stephen Curry and center Andrew Bogut is, to varying degrees, up for discussion.
"That includes second-year small forward Harrison Barnes, the Warriors reserve who is known to have sparked serious interest from a long list of suitors but who is unlikely to be traded unless it was part of a package for a big-name player."
Golden State has four trade exceptions: one for $9 million, one for $4 million and two smaller exceptions worth around $780,000. The Warriors' trade exceptions are attractive to teams looking to decrease the salary on their books and create cap space for free agency in the summer, or simply to drop under the luxury tax threshold.
The Warriors' bench is ranked second-to-last in the NBA in terms of productivity, something that would need to change if the club wants to make a deep run in the postseason.
Another trade scenario could involve Warriors guard Klay Thompson. While Thompson is productive, the Warriors could acquire another star player with a package including Thompson and their $9 million trade exception.
"If (the Warriors) really want to add an impact piece this season, they'll either have to orchestrate another three-team trade or part with one of the Harrison Barnes-Klay Thompson duo," Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote on Tuesday.
The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
