The Golden State Warriors are said to be one of the many teams keeping an eye on Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal. If this rumor is true, who (or what) might the Dubs be willing to offer for Beal's services?
The Warriors are trying to reload after a dismal 2019-20 season, which came in the wake of Kevin Durant's departure. Their 15-50 overall record was the worst mark in the NBA — this after reigning in the NBA Finals for years. Injuries played a role in this down campaign, as both Klay Thompson (torn ACL) and Stephen Curry (hand) dealt with ailments, but now they're ready to roll.
Furthermore, Golden State has the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft. The Dubs are rumored to be shopping the pick, which could very well be the centerpiece of a Beal deal.
Let's take a look at some possible offers.
A package deal
As part of a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps discussed a scenario in which the Warriors could acquire Beal by way of a trade. The duo felt that the trade would be fairly straightforward, pairing Andrew Wiggins with multiple first-round picks.
Would the Wizards be interested in Wiggins and a few picks? While the No. 2 pick in this draft isn't viewed as all that valuable because of the lack of high-end talent at the top, adding in that Timberwolves pick at least makes this more interesting. While Minnesota has Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and the No. 1 pick, there's a decent chance the club still struggles over the next few years in a loaded Western Conference. This pick at the Warriors' disposal is only protected 1-3 in 2021 and is unprotected in 2022.
The Wizards supposedly want to give the Beal-John Wall duo another go, but getting a start on a rebuild by trading Beal for the No. 2 pick this year and a potentially high pick in the next year or two wouldn't be a bad way to go. The Wiggins contract isn't good, but perhaps he brings some value in a new home.
Considering Klay
It's hard to envision the Warriors ever trading Klay Thompson, unless it's for a top-of-the-line superstar or it's toward the end of his career. Still, perhaps Golden State would consider including Thompson in a Beal trade.
As previously mentioned, Thompson is coming off an ACL injury that was sustained in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals. As for his recovery, he has looked good in practice sessions, but that doesn't necessarily equate to a game-time setting. He just signed a five-year, $190 million max extension last summer, so that deal could become dicey if he doesn't come back strong.
One league executive told CBS in July that the Warriors should consider trading Thompson if they want to be included in the “blockbuster trade” talks this offseason:
“In Golden State's case, I think they would probably have to consider including Klay in those kinds of talks if they were really serious,” the league exec said. “But to me, the bigger question is what are they going to do with their [draft] picks?”
Beal hasn't reached the same heights as Thompson to this point in their respective careers, but he could be a better player for the Warriors moving forward. Just keep in mind that he's almost four years younger and not dealing with ACL recovery.
Of course, this is a reason why the Wizards might be hesitant to make a move for Thompson, especially if they're eyeing a rebuild soon. Washington would likely require another asset or two in a trade like this.
Dealing Draymond
Trading Draymond Green may seem like a strange idea to some, but consider the fact that he's 30 years old and not projected to age well.
In his 43 regular-season outings last season, the former Michigan State Spartan racked up averages of 8.0 points on 38.9 percent shooting, 6.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Making things a bit worse is the fact that his 3-point shot has taken a hit in recent years — down to 27.9 percent for the 2019-20 campaign. There was a time when he shot better than 38 percent from beyond the arc.
If they were to choose this route, the Warriors would definitely have to throw in a pick or two to lure Beal from the Wizards with a trade proposal for Green. Furthermore, the Wizards would have to take an interest in such an offer. Washington is desperate for defense, so the club might value Green's acumen on that end and leadership while also taking on assets for a rebuild.
Follow Us
Subscribe