Without a “can’t-miss” prospect, Warriors should deal 2020 top-five pick

The Golden State Warriors will have a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but instead of selecting a player, they should trade the pick.

As the NBA Draft Lottery slowly approaches (don’t worry it’s still several months away), teams will begin to narrow in on some of these top-tier prospects. For the Golden State Warriors, they’ll be looking at any and everyone as a potential first-round draft pick.

There are about seven prospects that could make a case for being the No. 1 overall pick, an odd concept for the draft. Over the last several seasons, arguably dating all the way back to Anthony Bennett‘s draft in 2013, the No. 1 overall pick was clearly going to be one of just a few players.

That said, there is the talent that may be a level above the rest, but there isn’t any specific player that is head-and-shoulders above the field. The guaranteed superstar is not in this draft, making the Warriors pick less valuable to any other team.

“Ball and Edwards have the most significant perceived upside; neither is widely viewed as a can’t-miss prospect,” Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo wrote. If those two aren’t “can’t-miss” prospects, then really this draft doesn’t have one.

Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are considered the two prospects with the highest ceiling. While neither may be the top prospect for Golden State, if they are valued enough by an organization that needs a star, the Warriors pick may be worth quite a bit.

There is no Zion Williamson or Ja Morant in this draft, and that’s fine. While the star potential is still there, the Warriors can sacrifice this pick if it means securing another lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, one that is expected to potentially be the best in the last decade.

The Warriors will consider trading the pick, but unless Williamson is the pick, teams will typically hear out their opponents. It’s not like Bob Myers and the front office to immediately shut down any offers, especially if they help the team improve their future outlook.

But, with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the roster, adding this pick as their potential future star isn’t something the team’s fanbase needs to be revitalized. They can wait a season to create a package for a superstar as well if they trade back.

Whether they do trade it or not is obviously still up in the air, but if they can get another 2021 first-round pick, it should already be out the door.