A month into the 2019-20 NBA campaign, I think there is one thing we can all agree on: the Golden State Warriors stink.
Klay Thompson is probably out for the year, Stephen Curry is sidelined for the foreseeable future and the rest of the roster is full of guys that the casual NBA fan (heck, even some experts) wouldn't even be able to identify.
It's blatantly obvious that this team is not going to the playoffs, so the best course of action for the Warriors would actually be to tank (which is basically what they're doing even if it isn't their intention).
So, here are three trades Golden State can make to facilitate tanking:
Alec Burks to the Philadelphia 76ers
Because the Warriors just signed Alec Burks this past summer, he cannot be traded until Dec. 15, but when he does become eligible to get dealt, you can bet there will be some teams lining up to try and acquire him.
Burks isn't anything spectacular, but he is a wing who can shoot the ball and give a contender some much-needed bench scoring, which is certainly valuable in today's game.
A perfect landing spot for Burks would be the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that is in desperate need for both depth and perimeter shooting. Burks would provide them with both.
Philadelphia can trade rookie guard Shake Milton and a second-round pick to the Warriors in exchange for Burks. The Sixers get their shooter off the bench, and the Dubs get a young player and a pick to work with.
Willie Cauley-Stein to the Boston Celtics
It was kind of surprising that Willie Cauley-Stein barely got any attention on the free-agent market this past offseason, allowing the Dubs to scoop him up for basically nothing.
That also makes him a pretty valuable trade chip at the deadline.
Make no mistake: Cauley-Stein can play, as he is a big who can certainly play significant minutes on a contender.
The Boston Celtics would be a perfect fit, as they absolutely need some proven depth in their frontcourt, particularly on the defensive end, as Enes Kanter does not provide much on that end of the floor.
Semi Ojeleye is a bit redundant for the Celtics, as they have a lot of wing and forward depth, but he is a very solid defender who can absolutely help the Warriors going forward.
A deal that would send Ojeyele and a second-rounder to Golden State for Cauley-Stein would benefit both sides.
Kevon Looney to the Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are off to a great start this season, but one area whey they clearly lack depth is their frontcourt.
The Warriors just re-signed Kevon Looney to a two-year deal over the summer, so it does not seem like that they would trade him now, but for the sake of argument, let's say Golden State just tries to accumulate some picks moving forward.
The Dubs could send Looney to the Heat for Ryan Anderson, Derrick Jones and a first-round pick.
Anderson is under contract through 2022 and is making $5.2 million a year, but to offset that, the Warriors would also receive a high-flier in Jones and a first-round draft choice.
Miami gets a good defensive big, and the Dubs add a couple of pieces going forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe