Defending Champion Warriors Lay Low At Trade Deadline

While there were many rumors leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, none of them involved the defending champion, 48-4, Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors decided to stand pat at the deadline, not seeing any needs to upgrade any positions on their loaded roster.

Coach Steve Kerr said, “We like our team. We’re doing OK.  I don’t see the need to do much.”

The Warriors opened the season with a 24 game winning streak and have dominated most of their opponents, as evidenced by victories over San Antonio and Cleveland by a combined 64 points.

Point guard Stephen Curry, league’s leading scorer and reigning MVP, said, “It’s nice to know who we are and know our identity and know how were going to play and how we’re going to win.  With the pieces we have, everybody is really well established with their roles. That’s a comfortable feeling for sure. We’ve been on the other side of it not too long ago when you never knew if you were one piece away or one move away or how a trade could impact a season either positively or negatively. I like where we are.”

The Warriors have three All-Stars on the roster with Curry (29.8 PPG), 3-point shootout champion, Klay Thompson (21.3 PPG, 42% 3pt) and versatile forward Draymond Green (14.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.2 APG). They help Golden State orchestrate the league’s most efficient offense and second most efficient defense.

For the second half of the season, much attention will be on whether the Dubs can break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72 wins.  The Warriors are in the middle of a seven game road trip that continues tonight at 10:00 in Portland to take on the Trailblazers (27-27).