Warriors' eye-opening offensive rating without Stephen Curry should lead to blockbuster trade

Warriors' eye-opening offensive rating without Stephen Curry should lead to blockbuster trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Golden State Warriors have a serious problem on their hands.

Although Jimmy Butler is a viable offensive option for the Dubs, the organization relies heavily on 37-year-old star Stephen Curry to use his gravity and ball-handling creativity to drive the franchise's offense, making an injury or illness devastating.

Curry has already missed five games due to three separate setbacks (illness, knee injury, and right quad contusion), and the franchise’s offensive rating without the four-time NBA champion guard on the hardwood suggests that a massive change must be made.

The Warriors boast a 117.1 rating with Curry in the lineup and a 107.9 rating without him.

If the Warriors want to avoid a repeat of what occurred last season (Curry missed time with a Grade 1 calf and the Warriors’ offense looked lost in his absence), they should execute a blockbuster trade for another star.

Curry, who’s expected to miss multiple games moving forward with his right quad contusion, could use reassurance that the franchise can survive without his services.

Acquiring a high-level player like Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, or Anthony Davis would do just that, as each one of them consistently steps up to the plate if Curry is inactive and Butler plays passively (Davis is more injury-prone than the rest, though).

The main obstacle Golden State will encounter now is that Jonathan Kuminga, who would likely be included in any deal for a game-changing contributor, isn’t eligible to be traded until Jan. 15.

If the trade market is still appealing by then, though, the Dubs will have a chance to make a move that’ll benefit them tremendously come playoff time.

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