Golden State Warriors shouldn’t trade first-round pick regardless of return

The talk around town is that the Golden State Warriors, if they land the No. 1 overall pick, should trade it for a fourth star. That would be a mistake.

The Golden State Warriors will have a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

We don’t quite know how high it will truly be though, and we won’t know that till the following the NBA Draft lottery. That lottery could drastically change the NBA, and the Golden State Warriors, as we know it.

The NBA created the lottery as a way to prevent teams from tanking.

After all, the worst three teams all have an equal opportunity at the draft’s No. 1 overall pick. The Warriors will likely be one of those worst three teams unless Curry’s return causes some catastrophic changes. Curry’s return is set for March 1.

That said, if they do find themselves with that No. 1 overall pick, do they trade it? Well, many league executives are under the assumption that, if they do land it, it’ll be shipped elsewhere for a fourth star.

“Most league executives expect the Warriors to package their assets in search of a fourth star,” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported.

While he did note that some also expect that they could role with Wiggins and their current group of talented prospects, obviously adding that first-round pick to the group. Both ways make sense for the Warriors.

But, trading the pick for anything less than Giannis or Zion Williamson would be a mistake. Joel Embiid is not an improvement to this offense enough. Bradley Beal is terrific, but he’s not worth a potential high-ceiling prospect on a much cheaper deal.

James Wiseman or Anthony Edwards, while it is difficult to be completely sold on either or LaMelo Ball, could become the league’s next superstar. They could be the face of the Warriors for the next two decades.

You can’t trade that player while you have a roster that’s proven they can contend as is.

The Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and solid role players can still represent the West in the Finals. If that’s still the belief, trading that pick could be a mistake Bob Myers and company couldn’t live down.

At the end of the day, it’ll matter just how intrigued the Warriors are at the draft’s top prospects as well.