“We have a really good team (but) need for some pieces to help get us to the next level.” With just 9 contracted players on the team, Stephen Curry made his demands clear. He is 37, and the window to win is already shrinking. The 4x NBA champion himself stated, he is “taking it in two-year chunks.” So, who can help out the Warriors now and for the future? Jeff Teague suggests it is Malik Monk, who can perform better than the previous ‘golden boy’.

On the recent episode of his podcast, the former champion with the Bucks spoke about the rumors linking the Golden State to Monk: “Malik Monk could actually be a fire addition to the Warriors… But I think they are set in a big… That’s what they need more than anything. I think he’d be a fire addition though, cuz they need a spark plug like him. That’s the Jordan Poole type of player right there.”

Being 27, it feels the right age for the Kings guard to hit his prime. In terms of fit, Jeff Teague sees Monk as a better option. “And I think if he got in that system with those veterans and those players that could mold him a little more, he’ll probably be better than Jordan Poole, to be honest. Cuz I’m not saying he’s a better player. Jordan Poole is cold, but Jordan Poole grew up in that system, so he figured out how to be successful in it.” Winning the championship with the Big 3 of Curry, Green, and Thompson, Poole came out as the X-factor.

In the Warriors’ 2022 NBA championship run, he averaged 17.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 39.1% from three-point range. In fact, Poole had a hot streak that was very rare for a young player. Scoring 20 or more points (2021-22 season) in 17 consecutive games while averaging 26.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 4,2 rebounds. The streak was also hot because Poole would score efficiently on 49.7% from the field and 45.3% from beyond the arc. Behind that success, he would sign a mega contract too.

On October 15, 2022, Poole signed a four-year $128,000,000 contract. But unfortunately, his time in Golden State came to an end on July 6, 2023, when the Warriors traded him. Locker room fight with Green, a change in role, and a reduction in minutes were all probable causes why he failed to live up to the hype of being the next Stephen Curry. That’s why Jeff Teafue, on the Club 520 podcast, states a 27-year-old Monk might be the right solution for the Warriors.

“But as a natural player that they need for that system, they don’t need somebody who’s gonna do way too much. Jordan Poole was doing a lot, which made him special… Like you knew he was going to be the next up-and-coming when Steph left. But for Steph to still be playing and thriving, saying he’s going to play for another five, six years, they need a player that can get you 18 but ain’t going to take too much away from you.”

And yet, why haven’t there been any moves?

Why the Warriors are not pulling the plug on the Malik Monk trade to help Stephen Curry?

The crux of the trade is tied to the Jonathan Kuminga standoff with the Warriors. For now, the Warriors are offering three years and $75.2 million, including a team option in the third year. Instead, JK is reportedly going to accept the $7.9 million qualifying offer and be a free agent next year. Because of this situation and a stalemate, the Dub Nation is waiting to sign the 4 other stars. Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Seth Curry. Still, there were offers on the table for the 22-year-old.

Sources confirmed to Sam Amick that Kuminga is okay with a move to Sacramento. The Kings previously made a push for Kuminga a few weeks ago by offering Malik Monk and a protected 2030 first-round pick in a sign-and-trade for the former lottery pick. Now, the negotiations have sparked again, but the obstacles still remain. Recently, Amick added, “Several obstacles to a deal remain, most notably the fact that the Warriors’ interest in (Malik) Monk appears to be quite muted.”

He continued that the current contract of the Kings’ guard, which has a player option for the 2027-28 season, $21.5 million, is “not fit with the Warriors’ future flexibility plans.” Plus, his being a 6’3″ shooting guard with less of a defensive impact on the team doesn’t inspire the Warriors. So, the front office will need to listen to Stephen Curry and find a solution quickly. After all, the training camp starts on Sept. 29 and the first preseason game is on Oct. 5 vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.