In the middle of the Western Conference finals, Steve Kerr pronounced the trade for Andrew Wiggins as the roster move that got the Warriors' dynasty back on track.
It almost didn't happen.
ESPN's Zach Lowe reported Tuesday, citing sources, that when the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves first began talking about a trade involving Wiggins and D'Angelo Russell ahead of the 2019-20 deadline, general manager Bob Myers insisted on receiving two unprotected first-round picks and two second-round picks.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE Gersson Rosas, the Timberwolves' president of basketball operations at the time, got upset at the offer and briefly cut off trade talks.
Myers then countered with one unprotected first-round pick, which Rosas also declined, wanting a pick protected up to the No. 7-9 range.
"I went to bed thinking we were not going to get a deal done," Myers told Lowe. "Deals die over picks all the time."
Finally, the two teams worked out the deal on the morning of the trade deadline with Golden State sending Russell and two bench pieces -- Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans -- to Minnesota in exchange for Wiggins, a top-three protected first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Golden State Warriors
Find the latest Golden State Warriors news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Lowe also reported that Jordan Poole, a struggling rookie at the time of the trade, was never included as a piece in the trade.
RELATED: McCollum: Dubs have 'no chance' of winning Finals if Klay not better
That first-round pick ended up being Jonathan Kuminga, who has shown glimpses of star potential with elite athleticism as a 19-year-old youngster. Wiggins, meanwhile, has played a critical role on both sides of the floor during the Warriors' playoff run.
Good thing that trade went through.