In a move that seemed to come out of nowhere, the Golden State Warriors have moved their 1st year rookie player Jabari Bird in a trade with the Miami Heat for PJ Dozier. The Warriors were known to be active in multiple talks around the CSL as the playoffs started to wind down. The common thought though is that they were actively shopping either Kevin Durant or James Harden. GM Cyrisnyte had said on numerous occasions that Jabari Bird was most likely the most untouchable asset that they had.
Yet here we are. After just one season in Oakland, Bird is changing coastlines as he heads to Miami to join not just a playoff team but a team that was in the CSL Finals. He will pair up with the current MVP of the league in Ben Simmons and look to bring a title to South Beach in the upcoming years.
So what happened in Oakland? Why the sudden change of heart by GM Cyrisnyte on Bird? He had this to say.
When reached for comment, Bird said he understood the nature of the business. While he wasn't happy that he was shipped away already, he was thrilled to know of his landing spot.GM Cyrisnyte,
"Jabari Bird was a player we valued greatly. Bird is the type of player that if he can hit his full potential, can be a dominant player here in the CSL. We had every intention of keeping Bird and him being a Warrior for his entire career. This is a business though, we all know that. When we fielded the call from Miami we had no idea what they would be looking to trade for. When Bird's name was mentioned we were quick to back away until PJ Dozier was mentioned in an offer. When you look at the all around game of Dozier, you have to give series consideration to making a trade for him. His ability to score, rebound and find the open man is a rare combination that we look for. We want players who can contribute in multiple areas of the game, not be a one dimensional player.
We honestly feel Bird could develop into something very special but right now, we want a proven player to put in our lineup as opposed to one we are banking on potential for the future. Dozier is a player we can honestly say can step right in and be a contributor from day 1 here in The Bay.
So it seems that step 1 of what could be a huge off-season for the Warriors has taken place. They indeed seem to have extended Bird with the intent to cause offense.