Trade rumors are going to continue to grow as we slowly approach the 2020 NBA Draft. Here, we analyze a potential deal for the Golden State Warriors.
There’s simply no way to know if the Golden State Warriors are going to trade their 2020 NBA Draft pick or not. This is mainly because the Warriors themselves likely don’t know what they are going to do yet. It’s safe to assume the franchise will be listening to offers but they have no reason to jump on any specific deals just yet with the event still over a month in advance.
You can build a case for the Warriors to trade or keep the pick for themselves. This decision has had the fanbase and many analysts split. In The Athletic‘s (subscription required) most recent mock draft, Anthony Slater chose to swap picks with the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr.
Slater claimed that he shopped around the league for potential deals but felt underwhelmed by just about every offer. Citing proposals from New York and Detroit as the only other two that caught his attention, but quickly turned them down.
The best deal the Warriors will be able to get on draft night is probably this one. Oubre is quietly turning into an elite three-level scorer with his potent 3-point shooting and strong athleticism. He is a great rebounder for his position and fits everything the Warriors are looking to do on both ends of the floor.
Oubre could easily become a more reliable third option than Wiggins. Either way, the Dubs would absolutely love to have the luxury of an additional weapon on the wing. Oubre could also be a decent small-ball forward if the Warriors choose to craft a new version of the death lineup.
This swap left the Warriors with the 10th pick in the draft, where Slater somewhat reluctantly chose Obi Toppin. His preference was to add another 3-and-D prospect like Devin Vassell but was left with no other option. Toppin is an electric offensive player but mightly struggles on defense.
Still, if this is the package the Warriors are left with on draft night – I think the franchise will feel more than satisfied with their haul. This deal allows them to add two pieces that can help them compete immediately while also keeping the future of the franchise in mind.