Golden State Warriors: 8 Trades to reclaim NBA dominance
By Tony Pesta
Golden State Warriors can target R.J. Hampton (and a pick swap)
The first target on our list is a bit of a complicated deal. The Golden State Warriors would need to acquire multiple pieces for this to work — but on paper, it could be a huge win.
By coughing up James Wiseman and the seventh overall pick (along with filler pieces for cap purposes) the Warriors would gain a promising young guard in R.J. Hampton, a versatile wing in Terrance Ross — and the potential chance to draft a key asset at fifth in the draft.
At first glance, this might seem like a lot to offer for an unproven prospect in Hampton, an aging vet and a slight jump in the draft order. However, the Dubs actually benefit quite a bit from these marginal gains.
Hampton is only 19 years old and had a strong finish to his rookie season after being traded to Orlando. He posted 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his final 26 games. There are some concerns about his shooting and decision making but he’s still an intriguing asset to add to the Warriors core. Furthermore, Ross is an experienced perimeter threat who can add depth to the rotation.
Lastly, jumping to fifth in the draft pretty much secures the chance for Golden State to select any one of Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Kuminga or Scottie Barnes. Each can help build for the future and there is no guarantee those players will be on the board just a few picks later.