Breaking down six potential Warriors trade-down partners
There are a few teams who could be interested in moving up to No. 2. Josh Schrock has the rundown on potential draft-day partners for the Warriors.
Through no fault of their own, the Warriors ended up at the bottom of the NBA and own the No. 2 overall pick in one of the worst drafts in recent memory.
It’s a class with a number of solid mid-lottery prospects who could become stars, but no generational talents. That’s a tough spot to be in for a team with plans to vault back into NBA title contention this season.
In order to do so, the Warriors need to find ways to supplement their championship core.
Golden State has a need for a rangy big man who can defend the paint and be a rim running threat, a secondary ball-handler who can create his own shot, get to the line and knock down 3-point shots and a 3-and-D wing.
Drafting James Wiseman or Deni Avdija isn’t the best way to fill those needs.
The Warriors would prefer to find a trade partner who will swap picks with them in the mid-lottery and give them a proven player who can fill one of those needs.
There are a few teams who could be interested in moving up to No. 2, so let’s run down the potential draft-day partners for the Warriors.
Could the old NBA Finals rivals find common ground to make an draft-day deal? The Cavs own the No. 5 pick and could be interested in jumping up for Anthony Edwards or James Wiseman.
So, what does that deal look like? The Cavs could send the No. 5 pick, a future pick and Collin Sexton to the Warriors for the No. 2 pick and Kevon Looney. The Cavs have both Sexton and Darius Garland, who are basically the same player, and need to find a way to give on the keys to the offense. Sexton would give the Warriors a secondary ball-handler who can create his own shot and get to the line, and the Warriors could then draft a wing with the No. 5 pick.
What about a Kevin Love deal? Trading for three years and $90 million during the middle of a pandemic for a player who doesn’t fill a need hole isn’t going to be on the Warriors’ to-do list.
The Pistons own the No. 7 pick in the draft and are a franchise in need of star power. Their interest in both LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards has been well-documented. If the Pistons feel the need to make a splash and move up to get Ball or Edwards, they could send the Warriors the No. 7 pick and either Luke Kennard, Derrick Rose or Tony Snell. Are either of those players good enough to warrant moving down to No. 7?
Rose could be the valuable bench guard the Warriors have been looking for, but I think there’s a better deal out there.
There’s another, less realistic option, that sees the Warriors send the No. 2 pick and Andrew Wiggins to the Pistons for the No. 7 pick and Blake Griffin. The Warriors are excited about seeing Wiggins next to Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green and this would leave them very thin on the wing, so it’s pretty unlikely.
The Pistons and Warriors just don’t feel like they are on the same page to make a deal happen.
Danny Ainge has three first-round picks in a draft that might not have one star. Tough luck.
The Celtics, by all accounts, are looking to try and package their three picks to move up to the top of the draft. For who? Why? That’s unclear, but it sounds like Ainge knows he must rectify the draft misses from last season and get another young piece to pair with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker.
The Warriors, of course, have little need for the Celtics’ three picks. But what if the Celtics were willing to include Marcus Smart in a trade along with the No. 14 pick? Would that be enough to entice the Warriors? They would fill their need for a 3-and-D wing and still perhaps be able to snag someone like Saddiq Bey, Aaron NeSmith or perhaps Patrick Williams if he were to fall further than expected.
That’s certainly a deal the Warriors would be interested in Smart isn’t a guy the Celtics will want to part with easily. He’s the heart and soul of their team and a fan favorite. Ainge would have to really covet someone at No. 2 to part with him.
When in doubt, take advantage of the Knicks.
If the Minnesota Timberwolves take Anthony Edwards at No. 1 overall, the Knicks could try and jump up to No. 2 to grab LaMelo Ball or James Wiseman. If the Warriors smell desperation perhaps they could get not only the No. 8 pick but also Mitchell Robinson (who the Knicks reportedly don’t want to part with) or a future pick.
Getting all three is off the table, but Robinson would fill the Warriors’ need for an athletic big and future Knicks first-round pick would go nicely in Bob Myers’ asset collection.
Should New York be unwilling to include either Robinson or a future first in a trade then the Warriors should have little to discuss.
Sitting at No. 4, the Bulls appear to be a team primed to move up in the draft. There have been rumors tying them to both Ball and Deni Avdija.
If Ball slides past the T-Wolves at No. 1, there should be a deal to be made. The Bulls are under new leadership and could be looking to reshape the roster. As I’ve discussed multiple times, if the No. 2 pick can net the Warriors the No. 4 pick and Wendell Carter Jr., it’s a deal that has to be made.
Carter is talented big who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. His offensive game should improve dramatically in the Warriors’ system, giving them a young center with a high ceiling. The Warriors could then use the No. 4 pick to draft either Avdija or Tyrese Haliburton, who they reportedly are high on, allowing them to fill two of their needs in one move.
Look, the Hornets want James Wiseman. The Warriors appear to like Wiseman but certainly aren’t attached to him. What’s the price to move up one spot?
Given the Hornets’ reported lust for Wiseman, it should cost them a pretty penny to flip spots with the Warriors. Would the No. 3 pick and Malik Monk be a good enough package? Monk has struggled since entering the NBA and only shot 28.4 percent from 3-point range last season. That number likely would improve with more open looks, but that’s not a good enough return for the Warriors. Could the Warriors get the Hornets to include Miles Bridges? Probably not.
A deal with the Hornets, perhaps a three-team trade, could materialize, but the pieces don’t seem to fit right now.
