Report: Warriors Tried To Trade For Alex Caruso, Kelly Olynyk

According to NBA insider Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors tried to acquire Alex Caruso and Kelly Olynyk at the trade deadline.

The Chicago Bulls didn’t trade Caruso, while the Utah Jazz sent Olynyk to the Toronto Raptors. 

“The Warriors had interest in Kelly Olynyk and Alex Caruso on deadline day,” Slater wrote. “They checked in on others. Multiple team sources said they made what they felt were fair offers to bolster the rotation.”

The Warriors only made one move at the deadline, sending Cory Joseph to the Indiana Pacers. Golden State is 25-25 on the season. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. 

Caruso is averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Bulls this season while shooting 48.2% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 77.5% from the free-throw line. He’s one of the best defenders in the NBA. 

According to NBA insider K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls wanted Jonathan Kuminga from the Warriors in a Caruso trade. The Warriors and Bulls talked about a Caruso trade, but talks ended after Chicago asked for Kuminga.

“In exploratory trade talks with the Golden State Warriors centered on Caruso, league sources said the Bulls inquired about Jonathan Kuminga’s availability,” Johnson wrote. “That was rebuffed, and the Bulls made clear in talks with all teams that they didn’t want to trade Caruso, especially for a package on perhaps other young pieces like Moses Moody, so they’d need to be floored by an offer to do so.”

Olynyk is averaging 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season with the Jazz and Raptors while shooting 55.6% from the floor, 43.0% from 3 and 84.5% from the foul line. He’s in the final year of his contract. 

The Warriors would be in the play-in tournament if the season ended today. Seeing how the team finishes the 2024-25 campaign will be fascinating.