NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors looking for bench help

This season hasn’t gone quite as planned for the Golden State Warriors. After adding Andre Iguodala to a team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season, the Warriors expected to contend for a title. Instead, they sit at 31-21, good for just seventh place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

Injuries have played a big part in the Warriors’ problems, there’s no denying that.

Despite trading for Boston Celtics’ guard Jordan Crawford, the play of the bench has also been an issue and Warriors see that as an area they can improve, according to Sam Amick of the USA Today.

"According to a person with knowledge of the Warriors’ situation, Golden State is on the lookout for bench help and is hoping to use its trade exceptions as a way to facilitate such a deal that would likely need to involve three teams. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of trade discussions.The Warriors have two sizable trade exceptions ($9 million and $4 million) that don’t expire until next summer, as well as two smaller exceptions (approximately $780,000) that expire on Feb. 17."

Many of these exceptions run out before a team ever uses them, but it at least gives the Warriors a chance to be competitive at the trade deadline, although Amick does point out the Warriors are “$2.5 million under the league’s luxury tax threshold and would only consider using the largest of their exceptions for a major impact player.”

Even so, the Warriors remain a team to keep an eye on.