It seems the rest of the NBA is anticipating a blockbuster trade from the Golden State Warriors this offseason.
In a column published on Monday morning, The Athletic’s John Hollinger reported there’s a “widespread expectation that the Warriors will use No. 7 and [James] Wiseman, in particular, to seek more immediate upgrades to the roster.”
Golden State general manager Bob Myers said last week the team is “not trying to develop players at the risk of losing,” displaying a newfound sense of urgency with the team’s core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all on the wrong side of 30. Wiseman, who was taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, had his ups and downs as a rookie and will likely still be dealing with growing pains next season.
As for what type of an “immediate upgrade” the Warriors are looking for?
“One name to watch: Pascal Siakam,” Hollinger writes.
If the Warriors want Siakam, the 27-year-old Raptors star who made the NBA All-Star team in 2020 and averaged nearly 20 points per game versus Golden State in the 2019 NBA Finals, they would have to send back forward Andrew Wiggins to make the salary matching work.
Wiseman, Wiggins and the No. 7 pick should be enough to get the Raptors to part with Siakam, whose trade value probably took a bit of a hit after he underwent shoulder surgery earlier this month that will likely force him to miss the start of the 2021-2022 season.
