Tag Archives: Trades

I’m back! What do the Warriors do?

I’m back at it covering the Golden State Warriors and what an exciting time for all Warrior fans. With the possibility of bringing in big time names like Dwight Howard or Andre Igoudala, the rumors and buzz is ramping up.

Here are my thoughts on what can happen for the Warriors:

Best Outcome:
The Warriors dump the contracts of RJ (11.046 mil), Bogut (14.2mil), Biedrins (9mil) and sign Dwight Howard outright.

In this scenario, GSW would obtain 1 or 2 pick in future drafts, as well as trade exceptions in exchange for the large expiring deals. Any way that the Warriors could gain assets and clear cap space to sign D12 is a huge win.

Salty Outcome:
The Lakers sign-and-trade Dwight Howard to the Warriors in exchange for Bogut, Klay/Barnes, and a 1st Round Pick.

This is the “salty” outcome because even though the Warriors would be acquiring Howard, they would have to give up either Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes, who are extremely young and talented, with lots of potential and low salaries. The Lakers will most likely not be able get this kind of package from Golden State because of the Warriors ability to clear the cap space to sign Dwight outright, but the trade above is just the scenario on the rumor mill now.

Plan B Outcome:
Warriors clear up the cap space to sign Andre Igoudala.

I am not a fan of this scenario because doing this means giving up Bogut to get AI and the Warriors would still have Harrison Barnes. I think this move would leave the Warriors with a huge hole at the center position and clutter at small forward. I don’t like the idea of trying to hurt a good thing, and that is the result of this outcome.

Please let me know about your opinions and scenarios! I’ll update soon.

Here We Go Again

Chris Broussard has reported that he Warriors are still willing to trade for Dwight Howard without assurances that he will sign an extension. The Warriors have been pursuing this for way too long. Dwight does not help this team at all because of the assets we would have to give up to get him. Luckily, I haven’t heard anything about the Warriors being a front runner to land Dwight. So hopefully someone else will give up the bulk of their assets for a guy who is leaving in a year.

A few days left!

With just few days left before the NBA Draft, the Warriors selection at #7 is becoming easier to predict. It’s no secret that the Warriors have a top 6 that they are thinking about using the pick on.
(these are not in any specific order)

1. SF Harrison Barnes
2. PF/C Andre Drummond
3. SG Dion Waiters
4. PG Damian Lillard
5. C Tyler Zeller
6. C Meyers Leonard

My personal favorites of these are Damian Lillard, Dion Waiters, and Andre Drummond. I think that depth at PG, SG, and C are extremely important and are the best areas to address with our lottery pick. The health of Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut is highly questionable going into next season so getting one of those guys gives the Warriors some insurance. The Warriors have been reported to be really high on Dion Waiters, which would be a great selection, because he can come in and be a great scoring guard off of the bench who can also play some point guard.

It seems as though trade talk involving the #7 pick has cooled down, but look for the Warriors to acquire a 3rd first round pick and package it with their #30 pick to move into the 16-23 range. I think they will use their second first round pick on a SF like Jeffery Taylor, Moe Harkless, Royce White, or Quincy Miller.

The next few days will be exciting with all of the trade talks brewing. I hope the Warriors will make the right moves. Listen to the Logo (Jerry West)!!!!

Possible GSW Draft Strategies

As the NBA Draft comes closer and closer, the strategies that the Warriors are planning for draft night are becoming a bit of clear. I have been read a lot of forum posts, and blogs on various websites that are really leading Warriors fans in the wrong direction. Articles and Mock drafts stating that we must draft an Damian Lillard, Terrance Jones, Jeremy Lamb, Harrison Barnes, or Perry Jones are a complete joke because not only do we not NEED any of those players, there is no way in hell that we are going to draft them. The main reason for this is because they do not fill a position we need. It would great to get an upgrade at the Small Forward position, but unless we are picking #2 and getting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, there is no need to draft at SF when we have two competent players in Dorell Wright and Richard Jefferson. Drafting either of the Joneses or Barnes would be a waste to pick at #7, when their are decent players that we can get at #30. I believe that the Warriors have 5 options on draft night:

 

1– Pick a backup Shooting Guard to play behind Klay Thompson and David Lee.

Possible Picks here would be: Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Jared Sullinger, or John Henson

 

2-Move up in the draft to #2-4 range

Possible picks here: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Thomas Robinson

 

3-Trade back from #7

Strategy: If the player they want like Beal or Drummond gets picked, they could trade with a team that my highly covet Damian Lillard or another player and move back to unload salary or pick up a quality veteran.

Possible Teams to Trade with: New Orleans, Portland, Phoenix, Houston, Orlando, Chicago, Miami, or LA Lakers.

 

4-Trade Dorell Wright a 2 of their lower picks

Strategy: The purpose of this would be to trade up into mid-1st round, so that they would have the #7 pick, and a mid-1st rounder

Possible Trading Partners: Houston, Boston, Atlanta, Memphis, or Miami

 

5– The Last Resort: Using all 4 Picks

Strategy: If the Warriors can’t find a deal on draft night, it is widely known that they will draft and stash with their #52 selection and draft the 3 best players available with their other selections.

 

My hope is that the Warriors find a way to make option 2, 3, or 4 happen because staying put it not going to help the roster’s talent and is not going improve our cap situation. Will the Warriors finally take advantage of Draft Night, and not just the Draft.

Different Thoughts on Draft Day Trades

I am sure that all of you have heard that the various trains of thought regarding the Warriors targets for a draft day, and I am here to give you some fresh trade ideas and possible targets. We all have heard the names Andre Igoudala, Rudy Gay, Nicolas Batum, Josh Smith, and Pau Gasol as possible trade targets for the Warriors. We have also heard about the Warriors wanting to move up to #2 to get Michael Kidd-Gilchrist… I think that those targets are pipe dreams and false hopes for Warriors fans. The Warriors do not have  the assets nor the cap space to handle a deal for those players. Here are a few names I want you think about:

Paul Milsap, Joel Anthony, Luol Deng, and Tayshaun Prince

All of those guys are on teams that want something that the Warriors can offer them and that provide a much needed role for the Warriors. I will breakdown how these players fit with the Warriors, and how a trade for them can benefit the Warriors.

Paul Milsap -PF- Utah Jazz

Paul Milsap is a magnificent low post presence. He can score down low, rebound at a high rate, and defend big better than any player on the current Warriors roster. Utah currently has Derrick Favors, a back-up PF, who they want to give more of an opportunity thus making Milsap expendable. Utah is also looking to get into the lottery to select a point guard, likely Damian Lillard or Kendall Marshall. This is where Utah and Golden State can meet in the middle. Here is my proposed deal:

GSW receives: Paul Milsap, Raja Bell

UTA  receives: Richard Jefferson, #7,52 Picks

In this deal, the Warriors would be getting two great backup players who bring veteran leadership and premier defense and are on the last year of their contracts. This would only cost the Warriors the #7 pick in all reality. Richard Jefferson has 2years and $21.21 million left on his deal, so alleviating that deal from their cap space would be worth giving up on the #7 selection. This deal would leave the Warriors $10 million under the luxury this year to re-sign Brandon Rush or Dominic McGuire and sign a backup Center or Point Guard. And would give the Warriors around $17 million in cap space next year address free agents Steph Curry and Paul Milsap. This would be a great move for the Warriors.

Joel Anthony -C- Miami Heat

This deal is similar to the last because it involves the Warriors bringing in a defensive 3rd big. Also, because Miami is looking to move up into the lottery to select a Point Guard or Center. Here is the deal:

GSW receives: Joel Anthony, #27 Pick

MIA  receives: Andris Biedrins, #7,52 Picks

This deal is more simple to explain: the pros are picking up a defensive 3rd big man and dumping Biedrins’ ugly contract. The cons would be losing the #7 Pick. I think that this is great because Anthony has 3yrs and $11.35 mil left on his deal and never makes more than $3.8 million and the fact that we would be receiving a late first rounder only helps. It gives the Warriors roughly $5 million in cap space this year and around $15-17 million in cap space next year with only Curry to worry about bringing back. A home run deal in my opinion.

Luol Deng -SF- Chicago 

Luol Deng is the exact mold of the kind of SF that the Warriors need. He is a great perimeter defender, the kind of guy you can put on the opponents best offensive player, and he is a guy you don’t have to make plays for him to score. I have him ranked as a top 5 SF in the NBA, and would make the Warriors a big playoff contender instantly. Chicago is looking to get into the lottery, possibly to get Harrison Barnes who they interviewed at the combine in Chicago, and this deal would give them an opportunity to do just that.

GSW receives: Luol Deng, #29 Pick

CHI   receives: Richard Jefferson, #7,35 Picks

This deal would make Deng the starter and allow the Warriors to slide Dorell Wright into the backup role. This deal doesn’t help our cap situation out much, but the Warriors would still have picks #29,30, and 52 to address backup Shooting Guard and Center needs. I like the deal because it gives the team a top 6 or 7 starting lineup that may lead them to the playoffs.

Tayshaun Prince -SF- Detroit 

Tayshaun Prince also give the Warriors an upgrade at SF in both defense and leadership. I think this deal gives the Warriors a bit of cap relief and dependable SF for the next few years with a modest contract of 3yrs and $21.71 million. The deal is:

GSW receives: Tayshaun Prince #9,39 Picks

DET  receives: Ricahrd Jefferson #7,30,52 Picks

The draft picks are what would make this deal happen. The Warriors would back from 7 to 9, and from 30 to 39, but it would be worth it to upgrade from Jefferson to Prince. And this deal still gives the Warriors a lottery pick to possibly select a back up Shooting Guard or Power Forward that they don’t have to reach on.

The main point of these trades is too improve the roster, expand cap space, and dump bad contracts.  Let me know if you agree with these trade targets or my opinions about the Warriors needs in general.