The Golden Era | A Golden State Warriors Dynasty (NBA 2K20)

[marshdaddy]

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Sources: Warriors finalize sign-and-trade for Suggs

Anthony Nojkic
September 21, 2028

The Golden State Warriors have finalized a sign-and-trade deal with the New York Knicks to acquire guard Jalen Suggs (PG, 84), league sources told The Ringer. The deal is worth a reported $70.31 million over four years.

The Warriors are sending forward Keon Granger (SF, 78), guard Miles Bramos (SG, 74) and forward Randall Williams-King (PF, 71) to the Knicks to complete the sign-and-trade deal.

Suggs chose Golden State after meeting with Orlando, Dallas, Seattle, Oklahoma City and New Orleans.

The eighth pick in 2021 by the New York Knicks, Suggs was the 2025 Most Improved Player of the Year and has been an annual Sixth Man of the Year candidate coming off the bench behind Trae Young (PG, 93) and R.J. Barrett (SG, 87).

According to sources, Suggs had grown weary of his role in New York backing up Young and Barrett and was seeking an opportunity to start but also compete for an NBA championship. Suggs and the Knicks made the 2026 NBA Finals, losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in five games.


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Instant reaction: Jalen Suggs traded to Warriors

Isaiah Charles
September 21, 2028

The Golden State Warriors have acquired guard Jalen Suggs from the New York Knicks as part of a sign-and-trade deal that gets Suggs the four-year contract he desired and his preferred destination, as reported by Anthony Nojkic of The Ringer.

The signing is not only an indicative sign of how competitive the Warriors feel they can be this coming season, but also bolsters the guard depth of a Golden State roster that was depleted of rotation pieces in the playoffs. While Suggs was one the best guards available in free agency, alongside Cole Anthony (PG, 86) and Markelle Fultz (PG, 84), the signing creates a unique roster construction for a team that already has a pair of All Star caliber, ball-dominant guards, and for a player that reportedly was seeking a starting opportunity after spending years as a sixth man in New York.

With Jevon Rolle (PG, 87) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SG, 87) already in place as the starting backcourt, the sense I’ve gotten from sources within the organization is that they do intend to start Suggs next to both Rolle and Gilgeous-Alexander. This three-guard lineup will give the Warriors four players in their starting lineup, along with All-NBA forward Jonathan Kuminga (SF, 86), who are capable of creating offense off the dribble.

Suggs’ expected insertion in the starting lineup and Gilgeous-Alexander being asked to defend larger wings is also a necessary result of the Warriors giving up Keon Granger (SF, 78), the team’s starting small forward last year. While Granger was a reliable defender and shooter, he wasn’t as potent as an on-ball creator, something the Warriors lacked when Gilgeous-Alexander missed time due to injury.

It’s far too early to begin deciphering exaction rotations, but the signing also creates complications within the Warriors’ bench rotation. Keon Fogg (SG, 72), the 12th overall pick a year ago, is set to return after missing much of last year with a dislocated patella. At 6’2”, Fogg is better served defending smaller guards, and the Warriors paired his minutes off the bench almost exclusively with Gilgeous-Alexander to allow Fogg to defend smaller guards.

With the addition of Suggs, if the Warriors intend to keep the framework of their bench unit last year in place, which included James Wiseman (C, 82) at the five, that would likely mean Jaheim Briggs (SG/SF, 78) would shift to the three. Fogg is still a work in progress as a shooter, and Briggs is better as a creator than spot up shooter, all of which means the floor would be tightened around Gilgeous-Alexander.

But those are dilemmas for another time. While the Warriors looked dominant at times last year, they struggled mightily when they lost Gilgeous-Alexander due to injury. Suggs’ arrival ensures they have three guards on their roster who can facilitate and lead the offense, patching up the largest, glaring hole on their roster. However, in doing so they’ve created a different one.

Granger and Bramos are dangerous three-point shooters and helped space the floor. Now, the Warriors three-point threats start and stop with Rolle, Gilgeous-Alexander, Kuminga and Suggs. Briggs has yet to develop into an even passable three-point threat and Fogg is early in his development, but was better attacking the rim than shooting from outside. The next addition for Golden State must be another wing shooter, preferably one who might be able to defend larger forwards.

Outside of Kuminga, the Warriors will turn to Alonzo Harrell (PF, 76) and Kenny Fielder (PF, 71) as backup forwards. Harrell is an extremely talented defender but is a non-threat as a shooter. Fielder, meanwhile, entered the league as a rookie last year as a good shooter but is a liability on defense.

One thought I’ve had: would the Warriors explore a lineup with Kuminga at the five? If Briggs were capable of defending larger forwards, or if they were able to add another forward, Kuminga could shift to the five with the Warriors’ three guards around him. No center in the NBA is able to keep up with Kuminga’s explosiveness and he’s a strong enough rebounder and defender inside that Golden State shouldn’t have to worry about being overmatched in the paint. That would surely eat into the minutes of Terrance Braun (C, 75), but perhaps Braun can fetch a wing defender via trade, especially if Harrell proves he can be a backup center, something I think he likely could do.

All of these rotational thoughts are based off the belief that Wiseman, who is an unrestricted free agent, re-signs with Golden State. All signs point to that being true, with the only reason the Warriors haven’t re-signed the 2027 NBA Finals MVP being the fact that they were waiting to finalize the Suggs acquisition for salary cap purposes.

Again, these are problems the Warriors will happily look to overcome, seeing as they’ve added one of the NBA’s better guards and one the team clearly believes has more to give than he has had the opportunity to show thus far in his career.

[georgiafan]

A star studded fa class with those guys and looks like the wing minutes will be stiff if everyone stays healthy

[marshdaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by georgiafan

A star studded fa class with those guys and looks like the wing minutes will be stiff if everyone stays healthy

Yeah we'll have to grab another wing in FA, but unfortunately most of the wings are either RFA, out of our price range with the non-taxpayer MLE, or more in the mini MLE range, so there isn't a large group of players that we can pursue. I'd like to get someone using the non-TP MLE but I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull it off realistically.

[marshdaddy]

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Sources: Momentum growing towards Tatum deal to Brooklyn or Oklahoma City

Anthony Nojkic
September 22, 2028

There is growing momentum towards a potential deal involving the Boston Celtics trading Jayson Tatum (PF, 95) to either the Brooklyn Nets or Oklahoma City Thunder, according to league sources.

The Nets and Thunder have emerged as front runners in a possible deal as each team has grown more aggressive in their pursuit of adding Tatum as a complement to their young stars and veteran cores. In Brooklyn, the Nets are looking to add another All-NBA talent next to 21-year-old Louis Morgan (SG, 90) after having already completed a sign-and-trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Jarrett Allen (C, 85). Alongside Morgan, Allen and Rui Hachimura (PF, 86), the Nets feel Tatum would make them an instant contender in the East.

Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has reportedly been wavering on including Ibraham Mobley (SF, 85) in a potential deal for Tatum, but sources say they have grown more willing to offer Mobley in a trade for Tatum. The Thunder are seeking to put Tatum next to Cade Cunningham (PG, 92) and DeAndre Ayton (C, 91) after coming within two wins of an NBA title in July.

A deal to Brooklyn would likely revolve around Rashawn Matthews (PF, 78), the eighth pick a year ago, and Sidney Cross (PG, 80), the former 2nd overall pick. For salary purposes, Patrick Williams (SF, 83) would need to be involved. So far, the Nets have refrained from including Malik Hightower (SF, 80) in any trade. Hightower has blossomed into a valuable piece in the Nets’ rotation since being taken 11th overall in 2026.

Mobley, who is owed $24 million this season, is seen as the most valuable young asset on the market. The 2nd overall pick in 2022 by the Golden State Warriors, Mobley was dealt to Oklahoma City in 2025 in a deal that sent Jevon Rolle (PG, 88) to the Warriors. Many in the league feel Mobley’s ceiling is still high, though he’s been hampered by serving as the third or fourth option on offense in Golden State and Oklahoma City. That would not be the case in Boston.

The Orlando Magic have not stopped in their pursuit of putting together a trade for Tatum involving Wendell Carter Jr. (C, 86), sources say. Carter Jr. is not seen as a valuable piece in Boston considering his age (29) and positional fit. The Magic have been canvassing the league for potential deals involving Carter Jr. that would get them back the type of young asset that the Celtics are coveting.

[marshdaddy]

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Sources: Orlando Magic acquire Jayson Tatum in three-team trade

Anthony Nojkic
September 21, 2028

The Orlando Magic reached an agreement to acquire Jayson Tatum (PF, 94) from the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade, according to league sources. The deal, which also includes the Los Angeles Lakers, will pair Tatum with the reigning NBA MVP Tre Hunter (PG, 93) and the 2026 NBA MVP Jalen Green (SG, 89.

As part of the deal, the Magic will send their first round picks in 2030 and 2032, along with a pick swap in 2031, Kareem Livingston (SF, 78) and Greg Brown (F, 78) to the Celtics. They will also send Wendell Carter Jr. (C, 86) to the Lakers.

Boston, who is likely beginning a rebuild after trade requests from Tatum and Jaylen Brown (SF, 86), will receive Zavier Carter (C, 74), the third overall pick in the 2028 NBA Draft from the Lakers, and Nico Harrington (PG, 76) along with the Lakers’ 2030 first round pick.

The Celtics reached a deal with Orlando after conversations with the Thunder and Nets, once believed to be the frontrunners for Tatum, fizzled out. The Thunder were reportedly unwilling to part with both Ibraham Mobley (SF, 84) and Tomas Bajza (SF, 77), the third overall pick in 2026, in a deal to acquire Tatum, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season. The Nets, meanwhile, did not want to include Malik Hightower (SF, 80), the 11th pick in 2026 who blossomed into an intriguing prospect this season.

For Orlando, it’s yet another move in what has been an explosive summer since hiring De’Anthony Carrol to be the President of Basketball Operations. Thus far, the Magic have hired Chauncey Billups to be the organization’s new head coach, and hired LeBron James to an executive role.

The combination of Tatum, Hunter and Green figures to make the team an immediate front runner for the NBA title, as they also managed to hold on to Jahmius Ramsey (SG, 80) and Cameron Reddish (SF, 79), two reliable role players a season ago and both of whom have expiring contracts worth $17.48 million and $22.23 million, respectively, keeping open the possibility that the Magic could pursue another large contract via trade. The deal does leave a hole at the center position, but the Magic are seen as being a team many free agents may flock to, according to league sources.

Boston was reportedly unwilling to make any deal involving the Lakers, a longtime rival, if it meant sending Tatum to Los Angeles, but valued younger players with All Star potential down the line over players, like Mobley, who would likely raise the team’s floor in the immediate future without being a title contender. Many league sources believe had Brown not requested a trade, the Celtics would have looked to bring in more veteran talent, but the likely departure of Brown, along with Kawhi Leonard (SF, 86) picking up the player option on the final year of his contract, has led the Celtics down the path they feel will set them up with younger talent.

Devin Booker and Jaylen Brown updates

Brown and Devin Booker (SG, 91) are the two names left on the trade market, and any impending deals are already impacting free agent decisions across the league. The Nets remain aggressive in their pursuit of both players as they look to create a championship team around 20-year-old Louis Morgan, (SG, 90), having already acquired Jarrett Allen (C, 85) in a sign-and-trade deal. Allen and Rui Hachimura (PF, 85) are each 30 years old, prompting the Nets to feel that a title opportunity is in their immediate and long term future.

The Seattle Sonics and Miami Heat are also both expected to be aggressive in attempting to acquire Booker. After signing Michael Porter Jr. (PF, 87) a year ago, the Sonics won just 23 games, the fewest in the NBA. They already drafted Alexandras Songalia (C, 78) with the second pick this year and Frankie Bowen (SG, 78) with the fifth overall selection a year ago, and are hopeful they can build a roster capable of competing for a playoff spot.

Miami, meanwhile, is trying to put another All Star talent next to Bam Adebayo (PF, 89), an All-NBA selection each of the last four years. The Timberwolves, who owe their first round pick this year to the Golden State Warriors, are expected to covet high-level veteran talent in any deal involving Booker, of which the Heat could supply Tyler Herro (SG, 85) or Kevin Porter Jr. (SG, 85).


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Trade grades: Jayson Tatum dealt to Orlando in three-team trade

Ryen Simons
September 21, 2028

The Jayson Tatum trade saga is over, as the All-NBA forward has been dealt to the Orlando Magic in a three-team trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers, according to The Ringer’s Anthony Nojkic.

The trade ends a weeks-long ordeal, one that the Celtics originally claimed would carry into the regular season, that sends Tatum, who spent the last 11 years of his career in Boston, to Orlando to pair him with the MVP backcourt of Tre Hunter and Jalen Green and gives the Lakers a viable starting center in Wendell Carter Jr.

Let’s hand out grades for all three teams involved.

The deal

Orlando Magic get: Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics get: Zavier Carter, Nico Harrington, Kareem Livingston, Greg Brown, 2030 first-round pick (from Orlando), 2030 first-round pick, top five protected (from Los Angeles), 2031 first round pick swap (from Orlando), 2032 first round pick (from Orlando)

Los Angeles Lakers get: Wendell Carter Jr.

Orlando Magic: B+

Simply put, getting Tatum is a huge risk and high upside move for the Magic. When healthy, Tatum is arguably the best forward in basketball having averaged at least 30 points per game in three of the past five years, including 37.2 points in 2023-24, the most in NBA history by a player other than Wilt Chamberlain, passing Michael Jordan’s 37.1 points in 1987.

The Magic knew that continued failures in the playoffs could lead Hunter and Green, both of whom have two years left on their deals, to potentially follow a similar path as Tatum and request trades, so paying a heavy fee for Tatum, who is still recovering from an ACL tear last year, is a justified risk.

But that doesn’t mean the risk isn’t still sizable. Tatum has a player option worth $60.09 million next year, so in theory this might not be a one-year rental, but considering the fact that Tatum most certainly won’t be available on opening night, the Magic’s window to convince him to either pick up that option or sign long-term isn’t that long.

This may not matter, as Hunter and Green have proven to be arguably the best backcourt in the NBA, so there may not need to be much convincing for Tatum, especially if the team makes a playoff run. This is the biggest, and likely last all-in move the Magic can make. If he stays in Orlando, this grade jumps to an A. But between his injury and the now barren asset pool of draft picks for Orlando, there is reason to have at least a little concern.


Boston Celtics: A

Step one in the offseason tear down is complete, and with it came quite the haul. Yes, the Celtics got four first round picks, which could become even more valuable if the Magic or Lakers struggle. But getting Zavier Carter, the third overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft is the crowning achievement.

Carter may end up being an elite talent, but he’ll need time to get there, something the Lakers didn’t have and the Celtics now have plenty of. In Boston, who still has Robert Williams (C, 83) on the roster and is likely to be traded, Carter will be able to play big minutes and develop. As Boston shifted their focus towards future assets that could potentially be All Star or All-NBA talent, they couldn’t have found a better asset than Carter.

The rest of the haul isn’t terrible either. Harrington is a bigger guard at 6’6” and showed glimpses of a good jump shot (42.4% from three) in limited minutes (13.8) in Los Angeles. But the 23-year-old, former fourth overall pick in 2024 by Charlotte, is a buy-low move for Boston. Harrington may still have a chance to blossom and grow, something he never got in Charlotte or Los Angeles. The most minutes he has averaged in the NBA was 21.7 in his third year in Charlotte, a year in which he averaged 12.8 points and 3.6 assists. Harrington has never had the chance to play big minutes and develop, in Boston he’ll have just that.


Los Angeles: C+

Giving up Zavier Carter, who could be the best player in the draft, for Wendell Carter Jr. is a tough buy, but one that the Lakers had to do considering Anthony Davis is 35 years old. The Lakers are depleted at the center position and Carter Jr. should be able to step in and provide a valuable defensive presence, something the Lakers need and something Carter likely would not have been able to provide as a rookie on a team with playoff and title aspirations.

The move to get Carter Jr. also allows the Lakers to keep Colin Sexton (PG, 84) and creates a somewhat potent leading three. With Malik Beasley (SG, 82) and Josh Okogie (SF, 83) rounding out the starting five, the Lakers should be competing for a playoff spot.

In all likelihood, the Lakers probably would’ve preferred to get Devin Booker (SG, 91) but the best asset in their tool chest, Zavier Carter, likely held no value for Minnesota, a team that is trying to compete now with Karl-Anthony Towns (C, 88) and D’Angelo Russell (PG, 86).

[marshdaddy]

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Sources: Houston Rockets acquire Devin Booker

Anthony Nojkic
September 28, 2028

The Houston Rockets have acquired guard Devin Booker (SG, 91) from the Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell The Ringer.

As part of the deal, the Rockets will send Sekou Doumbouya (PF, 86), Matisse Thybulle (SF, 84), Alonzo Trier (SG, 79 and multiple first round picks to Minnesota.

The Rockets emerged as a potential landing spot for Booker in recent days, surpassing the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, two of Booker’s preferred destinations, along with Houston.

Houston can now pair Booker with Killian Hayes (PG, 87) in the backcourt and gives the Rockets the All Star talent they sought to lead their roster. The next step for Houston is re-signing Cameron Kabongo (PF, 82) and Nefi Diop (C, 81), both of whom are restricted free agents. Kabongo enjoyed a breakout season a year ago, averaging a career-high 16.2 points, and Diop was the 2027 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

The addition of Booker should insert the Rockets as yet another favorite for the NBA championship in an already crowded Western Conference. Houston won 52 games a year ago, good for the fourth seed in the West, before losing to the Nuggets in four games (3-1) in the first round. Despite the successful season, sources close to the team believed the team lacked the type of top-tier player needed to win in the playoffs, and while Doumbouya, Thybulle and Trier were all valuable rotation pieces, none of them raised the ceiling of the organization like the addition of Booker has the potential to do so. Devin Vassell (SF, 79) is expected to start at small forward.

In any deal for Booker, Minnesota sought pieces that would allow them to compete for a playoff spot this coming season, one in which they will join the Eastern Conference for one year. Without their own first round pick which they dealt to the Golden State Warriors at last year’s trade deadline, and with Karl-Anthony Towns (C, 87) entering the final year of his contract, the Timberwolves’ front office was committed to adding pieces that complimented Towns and D’Angelo Russell (PG, 86) and filled a number of holes on their roster, mainly depth at the two forward positions.

Minnesota rallied late last season to make the playoffs as the seven seed but was beaten in four games by the Pelicans, prompting Booker to inform the organization that he did not plan on re-signing with the team once his contract expired after the upcoming season. Booker, who was dealt to Minnesota in 2024 to play alongside Towns and Russell, two of his close friends, had reportedly grown irritated at the organization’s decision to not re-sign P.J. Washington (PF, 82) last summer, a move that was believed to have been made due to the Timberwolves large luxury tax bill.

Since acquiring Booker during the 2023-24 season, the Timberwolves made the playoffs just twice, each in the last two years, getting eliminated in the first round in each season.

[kibaxx7]

That's a huge bet the Magic are making on Tatum. Hopefully it pans out for them. Shame the Wolves wasted Devin's prime.

[Knickerbocker91]

What was Minnesota's Def Rating with D-Lo/Booker/KAT?