Another three-team
It would be ideal for the Golden State Warriors to prepare for next season.
In doing they, they’ll need to secure a quality small forward that can return Thompson back to his original position. That is not necessarily Robert Covington. While he would be a terrific addition, a player like James Johnson could easily do the job as well.
That’s why this three-team trade makes sense.
Playing in just 10 games so far this season, Johnson would give the Warriors exactly what they need, a defensive, gritty small forward. For the Wolves, they get what they’ve gotten all along, Covington and a first for Russell.
It’s interesting for Miami.
A top team in the Eastern Conference, would they be willing to sacrifice the difference between Covington and Johnson (Covington is better after a few straight down seasons for Johnson) for a first-round pick.
If they want to go all-in this season while the East is still the obvious inferior conference, then the answer is yet. This one does, in some ways, seem like a win-win-win with potentially only Golden State losing.
Overall, I think any of these trades outside of potentially the first and four make perfect sense for Golden State.