As the NBA trade deadline looms, struggling teams like the Golden State Warriors (20-24) are exploring potential moves to reshape their rosters. Despite speculation surrounding Chris Paul and Gary Payton II as trade candidates, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr dismisses the notion, expressing confidence in their current talent.
In a recent interview on Willard & Dibs on 95.7 The Game, Kerr emphasized the rarity of finding better players than Paul and Payton through trades. He believes upgrading the team’s talent to their level is exceedingly challenging in the current trade landscape.
“We’re not going to find better players than [Chris Paul & Gary Payton II] in a trade. It’s exceedingly rare to make a deal where you can upgrade your talent to that level,” Kerr said.
Paul, acquired as a surprise offseason addition, is on an expiring contract. The 38-year-old veteran guard contributes 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in an average of 27.6 minutes per game this season.
Payton is also on an expiring contract. The 31-year-old guard provides an average of 5.4 points and 3 assists in 16.3 minutes per game.
Kerr’s stance indicates the Warriors’ commitment to their current roster, as the team navigates challenges this season. Despite the desire for improvement, the head coach believes that retaining the skills and contributions of Paul and Payton outweigh potential gains from trade scenarios.
