Warriors are among the “best fits” for a $48 million trade piece to help Steph Curry

If you’re the Charlotte Hornets and you’re 10-33, you’ve probably decided that the postseason isn’t in the cards for you and that it’s time to start over.

If you’re the Golden State Warriors, you’re 19-23 and desperately looking for the right fit to keep you in the Western Conference playoff picture, despite nine losses in the last 13 games. A Warriors trade seems unavoidable.

“No question,” an Eastern Conference executive told Heavy Sports. “I believe they’ve had conversations with almost everyone in the league. They are casting a wide net, as I believe they would see it. They already have Steph Curry, but they need more pieces to complement him. So, they are looking everywhere. I would probably describe it as desperate, but that depends on how you look at it.

Well, in a meeting of two desperate organizations, the Hornets and Warriors could agree on a reasonable, if not spectacular, trade: sending Hornets big man P.J. Washington to Golden State.

Warriors Listed as ‘Best Fits’ for Hornets P. J. Washington
According to The Athletic, Washington has quietly been made available and is considered a “best fit” for the Warriors.

Washington would undoubtedly be open to an improvement in his surroundings, especially after signing a new contract worth $48 million over three years this summer in restricted free agency.

Washington is currently averaging 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists while shooting 43.4% from the field and 32.8% from three-point range. According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, this is lower than his usual output.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to get him off their books and another team valued him enough to give up assets in a trade. This hasn’t been Washington’s best season, as he’s struggled to shoot from three and had his role reduced as the team re-integrated Miles Bridges and drafted Brandon Miller.”

Steph Curry needs help.

At his best, Washington is a sweet-shooting forward who can play all three big positions and possesses the positional versatility that the Warriors value.

His 3-point shooting is an outlier this season, as he is a 36.1% career 3-point shooter, and he can protect the rim, averaging 1.0 blocks per game over his career. He is not only the best fit for the Warriors, but also for Curry.

Washington is owed $16.8 million this season, and if the Warriors wanted to send him to Charlotte, they could do so in exchange for Chris Paul and another salary—perhaps Cody Martin.

To make it work, the Warriors would need to send out some draft compensation—a protected first-round pick would suffice. However, if they are serious about saving this season, they will be willing to give up a potential asset.

Washington isn’t exactly blockbuster material. But the Warriors have Curry and they have talent. They do not necessarily need a blockbuster. This team simply needs a player who complements Curry’s abilities, and Washington’s skill set meets that requirement.