Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors need an assist, and Zach LaVine just might be what the side needs. With a 21-20 record, the Bay Area outfit is just over the .500 mark but is well out of playoff contention sitting in 11th place. The offseason moves and the recent trade so far has done little to move the needle.

The Warriors’ offense has become mid at best, and adding LaVine comes as a solid move while also doing more than just being the second reliable scoring option around Curry. Much has been said and spoken of the wing’s health and the hefty $215M contract that has seen most teams reluctant to trade for him, but a look at performances and the numbers warrant another look-in.

To begin with, can the Warriors afford to trade for LaVine? In theory, the answer is yes. Per ESPN’s trade machine, LaVine can be acquired, but he does come at a cost. The Warriors will need to sacrifice a few of their championship pieces if they want to add LaVine to their fold.

To match his $43M contract for the season, the Warriors can center a trade around Andrew Wiggins. Similar to ESPN’s Chris Herring whose proposed trade would send Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney for Zach LaVine, the alternative would be to perhaps add younger names to benefit the Bulls leaning towards youth movement.

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Replace Payton II with two names in Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski, the trade would see Chicago get younger stars to build around and experienced veterans in Wiggins and Looney. Draft capital to sweeten the deal (even if the Dubs have shown reluctance to part with it) will help them get a bonafide talent they sorely need.

On paper, this would mean the Warriors opting for a win-now approach, but with Curry at 36, they have perhaps one, or two seasons at best to win another title. The new ‘Big 3’ comes with a price to pay, but safe to say, that Zach LaVine is worthy of going precision over emotion.

What makes Zach LaVine a worthwhile investment for the Warriors?

Right off the bat, Zach LaVine’s offense will help the Warriors go the distance in a packed Western Conference. The Bulls star is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists and fits seamlessly into Steve Kerr’s pacy and 3-point style of play. He has been shooting 3s at a healthy clip this season — 45.0%.

His scoring numbers are better than any of the Warriors stars not named Steph Curry this season. The 4x NBA champion is propping up 23.0 points per game, and the next best the Warriors have is Wiggins (17.6). A healthy LaVine easily qualifies as a reliable scoring option for Golden State.

Adding him may not guarantee the Warriors an immediate title, but it does elevate them to playoff contenders. The move gives Golden State a solid chance to resurrect their campaign. He has shown to be a dependable scorer and playmaker allowing him to take over the non-Curry minutes while also providing breathers as often to the sharpshooter to be at his best.

LaVine can also be the face of the side in the future if he proves to be the right fit for the Warriors. With age and the necessary skills, what he lacks in defense, he provides with his prolific scoring making him the cornerstone of the side after the Curry era.

With just weeks left for the deadline, the Warriors need to pull the trigger on a trade. Their current roster as constructed isn’t good enough to make them go the distance to win a title. For now, they have a ready asset in Zach LaVine, and only time will tell if they can land the All-Star to jumpstart their fledgling campaign.

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