Golden State coach Steve Kerr had a plan for his team when he arrived at the arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday. However, that plan quickly changed less than an hour before the game.
The reason for the change was that Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schroder were no longer with the Warriors. Golden State and Miami Heat were finalizing a trade that would send Jimmy Butler to the Warriors. This left Kerr needing to come up with a new plan on very short notice. After losing 131-128 to Utah, Kerr suggested the NBA consider a change to the timing of the trade deadline.
“I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break just so you don’t have to face these games where guys are getting traded half an hour before a game and you’re trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game,” Kerr said. “I don’t know if it’s possible.”
The trade deadline this season is set for 3 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. All trades must be approved by the league, and then there are logistical issues in getting the traded players to their new teams.
While this is happening, the league still keeps playing.
The Warriors had only 10 available players for Wednesday’s game, with Wiggins, Schroder, Lindy Waters III, and Kyle Anderson out due to the trade. Additionally, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody were out due to injuries.
All 10 available Warriors played. Two-way player Jackson Rowe made his NBA debut, logging 14 minutes, and fellow two-way signee Pat Spencer also played 14 minutes—matching his total for the last 11 games combined.
Kerr described the pregame experience as strange.
“Our guys were in the locker room getting ready to play,” Kerr said. “And all of a sudden, we’re saying goodbye.”
The Warriors weren’t the only team missing players due to pending trades on Wednesday, and there will likely be more teams without newly acquired players on Thursday and Friday as the deadline passes.
“It’d be great if we could move it back or make the last couple of days before the deadline off days,” Kerr said. “I don’t know how to do it. But these are tough days, for sure.”
