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This Golden State Warriors-San Antonio Spurs trade is gaining steam

By Nathan Beighle

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 22: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 22, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 22: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 22, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors may still flip the No. 2 overall pick ahead of November 18th NBA Draft. If they do, the San Antonio Spurs may be perfect suitors.

With the 2020 NBA Draft almost a week away, there’s no denying rumors are buzzing within the Golden State Warriors community. With the second-overall pick yet no real need for it, the Warriors will have the options to trade out of the first round or at least back in the draft.

Their target is obvious — a star that’ll slide in alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and put this team over the top.

Earlier in the offseason, some were suggesting that the star could be Wizards guard Bradley Beal or Sixers center Joel Embiid. However, the most recent buzz is that could be Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

“On the latest episode of “The Lowe Post” podcast, ESPN’s Zach Lowe presents one such scenario that he says has been buzzed about in front offices of late: The Warriors sending the No. 2 selection to the San Antonio Spurs for big man LaMarcus Aldridge and the No. 11 pick,” SF Gate’s Alex Shultz wrote.

This trades makes a ton of sense.

The Warriors want to compete now. Aldridge allows them to do just that. With an almost unstoppable fadeaway, Aldridge is among the most effective-scoring big men in the league from the midrange.

With a late-lottery pick, a portion of the draft they found both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors should still be comfortable that they can find a star there. The real problem for this deal is that the Dubs $17.2 million trade exception doesn’t cover Aldridge’s contract.

He’s set to make $24 million this season. It’s not the biggest problem every, but the Warriors would have to then include Andrew Wiggins. All indications are that Wiggins will not be traded and be the team’s starting small forward.

To make this work cap-wise, something else must be included.

For San Antonio, they could seek alternative offers that include sending away Rudy Gay, a veteran small forward that has proven to be a capable scorer and rebounder even in the back half of his career, for a few second-round picks. Gay would fall within the trade exception.

That said, the Warriors already have four max-value players as Draymond Green’s extension, Thompson’s new deal, Curry supermax and Wiggins’ deal, which he signed with Minnesota, all put them very close to the cap.

Despite Aldridge’s fit, having averaged 18.9 points per game and shooting around 50 percent from the field, the deal would need more before it gets actually proposed.

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If both sides are adamant about the swap, it could make sense for the Spurs to include Gay and the Warriors Wiggins. For now, that’s just a theory that may make sense, not one that’s actually being talked about.

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