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The Golden State Warriors won the 2022 NBA title.
After two years outside contention, the Warriors came back in a brilliant way. It was a truly triumphant return for Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry won his first Finals MVP and while Andrew Wiggins found a role that really suits him on an NBA team. All of these factors, plus many more, contributed to the Warriors dominating again. However, no NBA team is static, so the Warriors should look to improve their roster and look for trades during what could be a wild offseason.
In that vein, let's look at two unrealistic trades the Warriors must try to make in the 2022 NBA Offseason.
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Unrealistic 2022 Offseason Warriors Trade Suggestions
Warriors get Myles Turner; Pacers get Andrew Wiggins
The Pacers have finally turned an eye toward the future, moving Damontas Sabonis and Caris LeVert at the February trade deadline and making other impact incumbents available this offseason. Myles Turner remains on the trade block, and Indiana seems more motivated to move him than ever.
With this trade, the Pacers would be able to get rid of Turner, while the Warriors would be able to do a multitude of things. Let's see why this trade could be beneficial on all sides.
For the Warriors, trading Andrew Wiggins might be counterintuitive, as he has been great for the team, especially in the playoffs. However, his mammoth $33.6 million deal, combined with Curry's $48 million, Thompson's $40 million and Draymond Green's $25 million, means that the Warriors are due to pay a lot of money in luxury tax next season. With this deal, however, the Warriors could significantly ease their luxury tax burden, key with Jordan Poole eligible for an extension this summer.
On the court, Turner's great defensive ability, especially under the basket, would be highlighted even more with the genius Warriors' defensive schemes. It just makes a ton of sense on all fronts for the Warriors and they should push hard for this trade to happen.
On the Pacers' side, they do this deal with the Warriors to get rid of Turner and not to lose him for free. At least, in this scenario, the Pacers would be getting a wing scorer, something they've missed since TJ Warren, a free agent, went down with injury in the fourth game of the 2020-21 season. Additionally, they could squeeze out a few assets from the Warriors, like second-round picks, which are always valuable for rebuilding teams.
If push comes to shove and it all goes bad, the Pacers do not have to keep Wiggins past the 2022-23 season and could let him go in free agency. Also, they could flip him again for some assets down the line. There are many options and it is likely the best-case scenario for the Pacers to trade Turner here, as he lost a ton of his value due to constant trade rumors over the last couple seasons.
Warriors get LeBron James; Lakers get Klay Thompson and James Wiseman
When it comes to unrealistic, this is about as unrealistic as it comes: LeBron James joining forces with Steph Curry and the Warriors. This trade might look crazy in certain regards, and it is. It would likely break the NBA, leaving analysts and fans in disarray and being one of the most impactful trades in the modern era of NBA basketball. However, that does not mean it does not make sense. After all, James did say that Curry is a player he would love to play with.
In these circumstances and with these players involved, this deal can be explained. Here is why it could be good for both sides involved.
The Warriors do this deal simply because it is James and he is one of the best players that has ever lived. At 37, James is getting on in age, but apart from picking up more minor injuries throughout the season, he is still the same beast on the court. After all, the Warriors saw it firsthand as LeBron decimated them in March, dropping 56 points. It would cost them Klay Thompson and James Wiseman, but as Wiseman is too injury-prone and Thompson is on a longer deal, it would make sense financially and basketball-wise for the Warriors to pull this off.
For the Lakers, doing this deal with the Warriors is a bit tougher to explain, but it can be done. With Thompson, Russell Westbrook could be given a legitimate chance to really run the team next season. He could be in control of the ball and in control of the offense, while Thompson and Anthony Davis would be the main scorers. Wiseman would be a bet for the future. This trade's success hinges on Thompson and Wiseman, not to mention Davis, staying healthy next season.
Of course, a bonus would be that they were able to turn a LeBron James expiring deal into a multiple-time All-Star and a great young asset.
