With free agency just around the corner, the Golden State Warriors find themselves caught in a flurry of trade rumors. While this could be a promising sign of things to come, Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg may be a little overwhelmed by it.
From being linked to free agents like LeBron James to reports suggesting that the Warriors are working toward a trade for Anthony Davis to lure James to the Bay Area, Golden State is in the thick of it. Needless to say, this has raised some concerns for players on the roster. With a veteran star like Draymond Green declining his player option, there is speculation that something big is on the horizon.
Amid all this, Yaxel Lendeborg also had some important points to share. When speaking with the media about the ongoing trade rumors, Lendeborg responded:
“It was hard to stay away from because my friends kept saying to me, in the group chats, they’re just telling me, ‘The lineup would be ridiculous,’ and stuff like that. So, I’m like, ‘Man, like, where would I fit in this, you know?'”
The Warriors’ pursuit of Anthony Davis is intriguing, to say the least. As a versatile big man, Davis brings a lot to the table offensively while simultaneously shoring up the defense with his rim-protection ability.
For all intents and purposes, Davis would be a terrific acquisition for the Dubs. However, Yaxel Lendeborg has every reason to be worried about his place in the lineup if the deal succeeds. From being a potential starter, the Michigan product may find himself moving deeper into a bench role. However, the rookie had bigger concerns.
“It would definitely be kind of interesting to see. I’m excited to see how it plays out,” Lendeborg continued. “Hopefully, I don’t get on the back end of that and get traded. So, just hoping I can stick around and see how that goes and learn from all the veterans that are going to come in.”
Yaxel Lendeborg’s reaction to the rumors may be funny, but the fear is quite justified. Given the Warriors’ timeline around Stephen Curry, a rookie like Lendeborg, despite his talents, doesn’t necessarily fit the same window.
With the intention of making the most of what could be Curry’s final years, the Warriors could show a distinct commitment to building a title-contending roster. In this regard, trading for Anthony Davis and signing LeBron James in free agency seems appropriate.
On the topic of acquiring Anthony Davis, potential trade proposals have involved swapping Davis for Jimmy Butler and draft compensation. Although this would work financially, a recent report indicated that the Wizards don’t intend to take on Butler’s $56.8 million contract, suggesting that a third party would have to get involved.
Washington’s hesitation is understandable. Although Butler’s expiring contract has some benefits, his unavailability for most of next season due to injury is concerning. However, to make the deal more appealing, the Warriors could even package Yaxel Lendeborg to ensure Davis comes over to the Bay Area.
For all intents and purposes, this would be highly unlikely.
As a lottery pick, the Warriors are far more likely to retain Yaxel Lendeborg and cultivate his skill set as a key rotation piece. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some of the other players.
At the current juncture, it is safe to say that Golden State’s front office is preparing for major changes. While there is no telling how things will eventually play out, especially with LeBron James’ future also mired in uncertainty, the Warriors will be gearing up for an action-packed offseason.
