The Golden State Warriors know where they stand in the 2021 NBA Draft after Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Warriors will be picking seventh and 14th in this year’s process unless they make a trade beforehand.
That said, whatever the Warriors do, their draft picks could still be considered as assets and can help the team maximize Stephen Curry’s prime.
Bob Myers and Steve Kerr at the NBA Combine: pic.twitter.com/4fuNdfpCnm
— Alex. 👋🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪 (@Dubs4O8) June 24, 2021
So what should the Warriors do with their current assets? I say do everything they can to get back to contention.
The Warriors were close to making it to the playoffs. They were one LeBron James clutch three-pointer away from the seventh seed. Who knows what would have happened if they faced an injured Chris Paul in the first round of the playoffs? That’s not an easy series for the Suns, who lost to the Warriors twice in the regular season.
How about if they faced the Utah Jazz? The Warriors were one Draymond Green layup away from claiming that eighth seed. Who knows what would’ve happened against the Jazz if the Warriors opted to go small as the Jazz faced injuries in the semifinals?
The ability of Curry to carry the team on his back is incredible—all he needs now is the right supporting cast with him. The Warriors front office must do everything they can to surround Curry’s team with the right teammates. The league is way more competitive now and for the Warriors to get back into contention, they need to acquire an All-Star.
Warriors keys after NBA Draft Lottery:
Find a way to snag Zach LaVine
Lavine is currently on a 19 million-dollar annual contract so the Warriors can still find a way to trade for him. The Dubs need another threat on offense preferably a bucket getter who can remove the load on Curry. If that means letting go of Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman along with their draft picks and current supporting cast then the Warriors should take the risk.
remember when Zach LaVine did this? pic.twitter.com/WdxxsDcJ1U
— vitor 🇧🇷 (@userpain23) June 19, 2021
Imagine a system with Curry + Lavine + Klay Thompson + Draymond Green?
Find a way to get Joe Ingles
Ingles is on his last year of contract with the Jazz and is someone the Warriors could really use.
The Jazz have to find a way to upgrade their defense and perhaps get a wing scorer. Joe Ingles can help the Warriors because he could fit well in their system.
He can knock down threes, space the floor, and provide his veteran presence to this current Dubs team.
Why the Warriors should trade their picks
The Warriors are not rebuilding, thus they should trade their picks for another competent asset. Take James Wiseman’s situation as an example. Wiseman was chosen by the Dubs second in last year’s NBA Draft but proved to be a little too raw for his current team. Wiseman was a long-term project more than an instant-impact contributor such as LaMelo Ball for the Charlotte Hornets.
The Dubs cannot rebuild and invest in raw talent if they want to be contenders again. Dangling Wiseman as a trade piece could lure another team into giving the Dubs a playoff-ready veteran if the price is right.
As mentioned above, the best way for them to get back is to maximize Curry’s prime. The greatest shooter in the history of the game should be around floor spacers and fellow All-Stars who can help him do what he does best—kill opponents with his unguardable offense.
