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The Golden State Warriors will be thin on their forward depth against the Detroit Pistons on Friday

The Golden State Warriors are less than three games back of the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but it's been an up-and-down season for this group that has struggled to find consistency. While players like Moses Moody and De'Anthony Melton have stepped up this season, it seems as though they still need another star.

If that were to be the case, the most likely option would be a blockbuster move for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as the two-time MVP is on the trade block according to ESPN's Shams Charania, with the Milwaukee Bucks listening to offers.

For the time being, the Warriors must focus on what's ahead of them, that being a Friday night contest against the Detroit Pistons.

Warriors Injury Report

The Warriors' depth on the wings continues to be tested, with Jimmy Butler (ACL) and Jonathan Kuminga (knee) OUT for Friday's contest. Butler's injury has already ruled him out for the remainder of the season, and then some, while Kuminga has been banged up all season long.

Circling back to the Giannis rumors, both players could very well be involved in a potential deal, with Butler to help match Giannis' salary and Kuminga sent over to give Milwaukee a young piece and allow them to salary-dump Kyle Kuzma.

As for the rest of the injury report, LJ Cryer (hamstring) and Seth Curry (sciatic) are listed as OUT for Friday's contest. Cryer has played just three games for the Warriors since being signed to a two-way deal, while Curry has played just two games as injuries have held him back.

Forward Gui Santos (calf) is also listed as PROBABLE, coming off a strong past two games, averaging 13.5 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the team's 108-83 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Matchup Preview

The first of two regular-season matchups, with the next one taking place on March 20th in Detroit, the Pistons have led the Eastern Conference for most of the season, in large part due to improvements in play around Cade Cunningham.

The former first-overall pick is having arguably his best season yet and is a strong contender for All-NBA First Team this season, especially when factoring in all the injuries.

However, Steph Curry might still just be the best guard in this matchup, averaging 27.3 points per game and continuing to lead the league in three-pointers made per game. He'll need a lot of help from his teammates to take down the Pistons, but a red hot Curry is tough to handle.

The Warriors and Pistons tip off in San Francisco at the Chase Center at 10:00 p.m. EST.

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