Warriors’ interest in Jalen Smith comes with a price question

The Warriors have a reason to want Jalen Smith. The harder part is giving the Bulls a reason to send him their way.

That’s the issue explored by Joey Akeley of Warriors on SI⁠, who examines possible trade packages involving Smith and Kristaps Porzingis. His scenarios are hypothetical, rather than reported offers, but they illustrate the challenge facing Golden State.

Jake Fischer of The Stein Line previously reported that the Warriors have contacted Chicago about Smith. The 26-year-old is averaging 12.1 points and 8.6 rebounds through seven games and carries an expiring $9.4 million contract.

Useful production, manageable salary, no lengthy commitment. There’s plenty to like.

But the Bulls would be giving up someone who’s helping them for Porzingis, whose playing future is uncertain. An expiring contract alone doesn’t necessarily make that worthwhile.

Akeley outlines one possibility in which Golden State sends Porzingis and a top-11-protected 2027 first-round pick to Chicago for Smith and a 2027 second-rounder. He calls that an overpay for the Warriors, while noting their limited supply of tradable second-round picks makes finding a smaller incentive difficult.

His other proposal sends Porzingis and Gui Santos to the Bulls for Smith and Isaac Okoro. That would give Chicago a younger player under contract beyond this season, though it would require the Warriors to part with Santos.

Neither is an obvious bargain for Golden State. That’s largely Akeley’s point.

“If the Warriors decide to trade their 2027 first-round pick, I’d guess that they will be targeting a player better than Smith,” he wrote.

The Warriors can like Smith without liking what it might cost to acquire him. And the Bulls can listen without deciding they need to move him.

Finding a target was the easy part. Agreeing on his value could be considerably harder.

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