Report: Warriors Eyed PG13, Markkanen Pairing in Offseason Blockbuster

The Golden State Warriors' pursuit of a dynamic wing duo fell short

The Warriors reportedly explored a blockbuster trade for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen this offseason

The Golden State Warriors reportedly explored a blockbuster trade for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen this offseason, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The Warriors were interested in acquiring George and Markkanen from the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, respectively, in a three-team deal that would have sent James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody to the Clippers and Jazz. However, the deal ultimately fell through, as the Clippers were unwilling to part with George and the Jazz were unwilling to part with Markkanen. The Warriors have been looking to add another star to their lineup to help them compete for another NBA championship. George is a seven-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, while Markkanen is a one-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA selection. The Warriors are still considered one of the favorites to win the NBA championship this season, but the addition of George and Markkanen would have made them even more formidable.

Here are some of the reasons why the Warriors were interested in acquiring George and Markkanen:

George is a versatile wing who can score, rebound, and defend at a high level.
Markkanen is a skilled shooter who can also rebound and defend.
Both players are still relatively young and have room to grow.

The Warriors have a strong core of players led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The addition of George and Markkanen would have given them another two All-Star caliber players to help them compete for another NBA championship.

However, the Warriors were unable to complete the deal, and they will now have to look for other ways to improve their team.