The Golden State Warriors are trying to fix a mistake they made with Zach LaVine, a player who should already be on their roster. After weeks of seemingly no major moves, the Warriors may be back in the market for a star player before the February 6 trade deadline. While Jimmy Butler emerged as a target earlier, Zach LaVine is now back on the radar, according to a recent report from The Athletic.
LaVine would have been a great fit as a secondary scorer alongside Stephen Curry, but the Warriors’ renewed interest in him reflects frustration over their earlier decision. They could have acquired LaVine during the offseason, reportedly turning down an offer from Chicago that would have sent the 29-year-old to Golden State in exchange for Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins. While the Warriors’ reasoning for rejecting that offer is understandable, it’s also clear they might have been able to strike a revised deal involving Paul and the expiring contracts of Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney.
At the time, LaVine’s value was low after a season where he played just 25 games due to injury. However, instead of acquiring him for a low price, the Warriors waived Paul’s non-guaranteed deal and opted for greater flexibility in free agency, leading to several mid-tier signings. Unfortunately, those signings have largely fallen short—De’Anthony Melton suffered a season-ending injury, Dennis Schroder has struggled, and Kyle Anderson has spent much time out of the rotation.
Now, with the trade deadline looming, the Warriors are revisiting LaVine, whose stock has risen after a strong start to the season. He’s currently averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, with impressive shooting percentages. Many fans are frustrated that the Warriors didn’t act sooner, especially since their offense is currently ranked 16th in the NBA. It’s now a waiting game to see if they can acquire LaVine, which would highlight their acknowledgment of the earlier mistake.
