Warriors aggressively pursue Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The Warriors appear to be making phone calls ahead of NBA free agency.

As Golden State looks to expand its roster while saving on salary, general manager Mike Dunleavy may be preparing to part ways with two veteran players.

The Warriors are looking to trade both forward Andrew Wiggins and guard Chris Paul, The Ringer’s Logan Murdock reported in his column on Wednesday, citing league sources.

“Golden State has opportunities to make big moves this summer,” Murdock wrote. “They have the 52nd pick in this year’s draft, own their first-round picks from 2025-2029 and have several players with uncertain futures. League sources believe Andrew Wiggins, who struggled to find a consistent role last season, is being aggressively pursued in transfer talks.”

“The Warriors are also working hard to find a trade partner for Chris Paul, whose $30 million non-guaranteed salary for 2024-25 could be useful for matching purposes – but they only have until Friday, the last day they can release Paul before his contract becomes fully guaranteed for next season.”

Paul, 39, averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent from 3-point range in 58 games last season in his first season with the Warriors, mostly leading coach Steve Kerr’s second unit from the bench.

As Murdock mentioned, the Warriors have until Friday to decide whether to guarantee Paul’s contract for the 2024-25 season.

In 71 games (59 starts), Wiggins averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, a career low, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range.

Combined, Wiggins and Paul are due about $56.2 million next season. If the Warriors are able to offload those contracts, the financial flexibility it will provide will certainly help them sign another star player like Paul George, to whom they reportedly may offer a max contract in the offseason.

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