The Golden State Warriors sit at a frustrating 16-15 record in the Western Conference—mediocre at best, with a roster featuring three future Hall of Famers (Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green) yet struggling to crack the elite tier. While a sneaky playoff berth is still possible in April, a deep Finals run feels out of reach without a significant shake-up. Enter Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, who just proposed a blockbuster trade that could provide the exact scoring punch and spacing the Warriors desperately need: acquiring Michael Porter Jr. and Haywood Highsmith from the Brooklyn Nets.
In his latest column, Buckley argues this deal strikes the perfect balance—adding immediate help without mortgaging the entire future. “The Warriors clearly need to get Stephen Curry more scoring support, but they also have to be careful about forking over their entire future when they might be more than one trade away from title contention,” he wrote. “This feels like the right tightrope to traverse.”
The proposed package:
Warriors send: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, a 2028 first-round pick (top-5 protected), and a 2030 first-round pick swap (21-30 protected).Nets receive: Michael Porter Jr. and Haywood Highsmith.
Porter, the 27-year-old former Nuggets champion, is playing the best basketball of his career in Brooklyn. He’s averaging a career-high 25.7 points per game on 49.1% field goal shooting and 40.1% from three—numbers that make him one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the league. His career slash line (49.9/40.6/79.9) highlights his elite shooting prowess, and his ability to pull defenders away from Curry and Butler would open up the floor dramatically.
Highsmith, a sturdy 3-and-D wing nearing his return from offseason knee surgery, adds defensive versatility and size to complement Porter. Together, they could give Golden State the length and spacing needed to compete with the West’s top teams.
Buckley’s rationale is spot-on: Porter isn’t the most well-rounded wing, but he excels at what he does—being a lights-out shooter who thrives off catch-and-shoot and off-ball movement. In Steve Kerr’s motion offense, he’d feast on the gravity created by Curry and Butler, potentially becoming the legitimate third scoring option the Warriors have lacked.
The cost is steep—Kuminga and Moody are young talents with upside, Hield provides shooting depth, and those future picks hurt—but it’s not a full future gutting. The Warriors retain flexibility for another move if needed.
With the trade deadline just weeks away, this proposal feels like a realistic path to elevate Golden State from “plucky playoff team” to genuine contender. Porter could be the missing piece that reignites the dynasty. Warriors fans, buckle up—this offseason could deliver fireworks.