Dub Hub: Warriors reportedly ‘dead set’ on trading for an All-Star player

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, February 3rd.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Warriors are “dead set” on trading for an All-Star caliber player.
• Heat’s Jimmy Butler says he won’t sign an extension if traded to the Warriors, according to ESPN.
• Lakers, Movs complete blockbuster trade featuring superstars Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.

The February 6th NBA Trade Deadline is just days away, and the Golden State Warriors are making their intentions clear—they want another All-Star. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Warriors are “dead set” on adding a star to pair with Stephen Curry and have been calling about nearly every NBA All-Star, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Jimmy Butler.

While Golden State has yet to make a move, the trade market has already seen seismic shifts. The weekend saw a stunning blockbuster deal sending Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, while a three-team trade landed De’Aaron Fox with the San Antonio Spurs and Zach LaVine with the Sacramento Kings.

In a season where the Warriors find themselves fluctuating around a mediocre .500 record, they appear determined to shake up the roster before Thursday’s deadline. Whether they can pull off a major deal remains to be seen, but their aggressive approach signals a willingness to make a splash to extend their championship window with Curry.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, February 3rd:

Warriors News:

Jake Fischer Latest: Is it the Warriors’ turn to strike gold before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline? | The Stein Line

The path to Durant alone does seem plausible. Phoenix, entering Monday’s business, continued to signal that it does not plan to move Durant before the deadline, sources said, but the Suns are believed to be listening at the very least to various teams’ pitches for the 35-year-old scoring legend. Durant, meanwhile, is said to be aware of all this.

The Suns, mind you, are expected to maintain a very high asking price before they ever agreed to part ways with him. We’re talking serious draft capital and highly rated young talent. The Suns do have a level of interest in Jonathan Kuminga, sources said.

Sources: Heat’s Jimmy Butler tells Warriors he won’t sign if traded | ESPN

Butler’s position dims the chances of a deal coming together, but the situation remains fluid, sources said. The Warriors have been in conversations with multiple teams about improving their roster leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

Butler has a $52 million player option for next season, but his representation has indicated repeatedly that he prefers to bypass it and become a free agent. Butler’s focus remains on getting traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he has shown an interest in signing a multiyear deal, sources said.

Report: Warriors, discussed trade for LaVine and Vučević with Bulls | NBC Sports Bay Area

Adding both LaVine and Vučević would have provided a big boost to a Warriors starting lineup that features only one player averaging 20 points per game or more in superstar guard Steph Curry (22.1).

In 42 games this season, LaVine is averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game on 51.1-percent shooting from the field and 44.6 percent from 3-point range. Vučević is averaging 19.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on 54.7-percent shooting from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range in 48 games.

Moody vs. KD lone defensive bright spot in Warriors’ loss to Suns | NBC Sports Bay Area

Phoenix matched its second-highest scoring total of the season, tallied nearly 18 points more than its season average and put up more than 125 points for only the fourth time this season.

Part of the problem, Golden State coach Steve Kerr said, was the Warriors didn’t play well enough offensively to take some of the pressure off the defense.

“I just thought our offense didn’t help our defense, and once [the Suns] got out of the gate they were tough to stop,” Kerr said. “They had a great night.”

Steph Curry’s live reaction to the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade

NBA News:

Inside the top-secret trade negotiations that made Luka Dončić a Laker | The Athletic

The Mavs, desperate to find Dončić a new home as soon as possible, did not press for it.

The Lakers’ logic, according to league sources, was that parting with both of their first-rounders would be too perilous. Dončić’s contract can expire in 2026 when they couldn’t know his interest in re-signing. And they had no chance to find out before pulling off an exchange that shook the NBA.

The Lakers could not talk to Dončić’s agent, Bill Duffy, about the trade because both sides, Dallas and Los Angeles, wanted to keep negotiations a secret. Mentioning the behind-the-scenes details to agents would put the information at risk of becoming public, which the Mavericks especially thought would be too flammable. If a trade didn’t materialize, then they believed the prospect of being left with a disgruntled franchise centerpiece could be disastrous.

Sources: De’Aaron Fox to Spurs, Zach LaVine to Kings in 3-team trade | ESPN

The Spurs made the deal for Fox happen without giving up much of their copious stash of draft picks or the keys to their young core — players such as rookie Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson. The Spurs also held on to veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, both of whom are in their first season with San Antonio.

NBA reveals honorary coaches for Rising Stars

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Preview: Warriors battle Magic in the Chase Center

Dub Nation has been riding this roller coaster all season like it’s Great America’s Flight Deck – thrilling highs followed by stomach-dropping lows. At 24-24, they’re essentially the NBA’s most expensive coin flip. But tonight’s matchup against the Magic presents an interesting wrinkle in the fabric of this strange season.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.