Grading six potential Warriors trade-downs with No. 2 pick
The Warriors could have many options to move down in the 2020 NBA Draft, but are any of them worth it?
Editor's note: This piece originally was published on Nov. 5.
With two weeks until the 2020 NBA Draft, the Warriors are entering the final stretch of what has been a long, extended process.
The Warriors own the No. 2 overall pick and have been connected to just about every potential lottery pick you can think of. No one truly knows which prospects the Warriors really like and what has been smoke.
That puts Golden State in an advantageous position on the trade market. With no idea of who they want to trade, teams could be clamoring to move up to No. 2 to secure James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball.
The Warriors reportedly would like to trade down the board and have their eye on a number of mid-to-late lottery picks.
So let's take a look at six potential trade down scenarios for the Warriors and decide whether or not this would help Golden State in their quest to return to title contention this season.
Some of the below trades are courtesy of what ESPN's Zach Lowe has been hearing, and a few are purely trade machine concoctions.
Warriors get: Luke Kennard, No. 7 pick, lightly protected 2021 first-round pick
Pistons get: No. 2 pick
This deal really doesn't do a whole lot for the Warriors' current desire to vault back into title contention. Yes, they need more wings and would like to add some more shooting. Kennard is a good 3-point shooter and can score on all three levels. He's had some health issues but did average 15.8 points per game on 44.2 percent shooting in 28 games last year.
If the Warriors were to trade for Kennard and then draft Tyrese Haliburton or Isaac Okoro at No. 7, would that give them the pieces they want? It's enticing, but not good enough.
Grade: D-plus
Warriors get: Kevin Knox, No. 8 pick, Dallas' two first-round picks
Knicks get: No. 2 pick
According to Lowe, the Knicks have been unwilling to include R.J. Barrett or Mitchell Robinson in trade talks. This deal doesn't do much for the Warriors, in my opinion.
Knox has struggled since coming to the NBA, and while some of that can be blamed on the Knicks, the Warriors aren't in the place to work on developing him and breaking him of any bad habits he developed in New York.
If the Knicks aren't willing to talk about Robinson -- the Warriors could use an athletic center -- then the Warriors have nothing to talk about.
Grade: F
Warriors get: Kelly Oubre Jr., No. 10 pick
Suns get: No. 2 pick
The rumors of the Warriors' interest in Kelly Oubre has swirled all offseason. The young wing is exactly the type of player the Warriors are looking for. He's a rangy wing who is a versatile defender and can shoot the 3-point shot.
This would require the Warriors to use their trade exception to absorb Oubre and perhaps taking someone like Devin Vassell or Patrick Williams at No. 10. This trade would allow the Suns to move up and take one of the remaining top three players -- likely either Ball or Edwards since a Wiseman-Deandre Ayton pairing might not be ideal.
There might have to be other ancillary pieces involved in the deal, but it could work. If the Warriors could net Oubre and one of the mid-lottery wings they are interested in, they will have done well to fill a big hole on their roster.
The only question is whether the Suns like a prospect near the top of the draft enough to pull the trigger.
Grade: B-plus
Warriors get: Nemanja Bjelica, Richaun Holmes, No. 12 pick and top-five protected future first-round pick
Kings get: No. 2 pick
According to Lowe, league sources believe the Warriors would view this trade as "selling low" on the No. 2 overall pick. They would be right.
Bjelica and Holmes are solid players who could fill a role for the 2020-21 Warriors. But they are both on expiring deals and neither fills the wing need the Warriors have. Making the future pick top-five protected, also lessens the deal for the Warriors.
If this is the only deal available, the Warriors would be better off taking Wiseman or Avdija at No. 2 and using their trade exception later.
Grade: D-minus
Warriors get: Collin Sexton, No. 5 pick, future pick
Cavs get: No. 2 pick and Kevon Looney
I actually think that this is a sneaky good trade for the Warriors. They get a good, young rotation piece in Sexton who can handle the ball and run the offense when Curry is off the floor. They get the No. 5 pick which they could use to perhaps get Avdija, if he slips that far, or Haliburton or Okoro. They also get the future first-round pick which they can add to their stockpile for a future trade.
Looney is a favorite of coach Steve Kerr, but his health situation has been an issue. The Warriors send Looney to Cleveland to match salaries with Sexton meaning they can use their trade exception elsewhere.
This deal would be contingent on the Cavs being high on one of the big-three prospects and trading Sexton allows them to alleviate their backcourt issues with Sexton and Darius Garland.
Grade: B-minus
Warriors get: Wendell Carter Jr., No. 4 pick
Bulls get: No. 2 pick
This one is a deal that should be very intriguing to the Warriors if it's on the table. Carter is a young, talented, playmaking big who would fit well in the Warriors' unselfish system. While he hasn't shown it at the NBA level, Carter was a decent 3-point shooter in college and should be able to improve his professional numbers with more open looks.
Adding Carter and perhaps Avdija at No. 4 would be a huge win for the Warriors. They would fill their center need with Carter, who could be with them for years to come, and get a prospect who might have turn out to be the best player in this class.
Grade: A-minus
