With trade talks heating up all around the league — the Golden State Warriors need to be doing their best to avoid any unnecessary risks. Patience is truly a virtue. Especially, when it comes to the 2021 NBA Draft.
Rumors are running rampant as the Dubs engage in trade talks involving both of their lottery picks. Star names like Damian Lillard, Pascal Siakam and others are becoming more and more enticing to a core that is potentially entering their final hoorah in terms of competing for championships.
Yet, the franchise needs to be confident the decision they make on draft night is the right one. There is no sense in making a trade for the sake of making a trade.
The pressure is mounting for the Golden State Warriors to make a move before the NBA Draft. But, they mustn’t act rashly.
As intriguing as names like Lillard and Siakam might be — we have to ask, are they worth it? The cost of acquiring one of those stars is nothing short of James Wiseman, Andrew Wiggins and numerous first round picks. Can the Dubs afford to risk their entire future on one of these guys?
I am all for swinging for the fences and maximizing your chance at winning a championship. There are no promises in the NBA and simply standing by and waiting for the moment to come to you won’t cut it.
However, the Warriors do NOT need to throw away their future in order to win once again. This roster is strong, albeit inexperienced. The core three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green absolutely have enough gas in the tank to compete for three more years (barring major injuries).
This allows plenty of time for developing prospects like James Wiseman and Jordan Poole to emerge as more reliable contributors. The same goes for whoever they select in the draft this year.
In the event they trade their picks, it shouldn’t be in tandem with a massive collection of assets unless they are receiving an unequivocal star in return such as Kawhi Leonard (which seems incredibly unlikely).
With this being said, the Warriors would be best suited looking for veteran leadership to round out this lineup. They have a bit of wiggle room financially to sign a vet in free agency and can trade their picks for more experienced players at a lower cost.
The Warriors don’t need to shake things up drastically just yet. Surround the big three with competent role players and let’s see how far they can take the franchise in the last stages of their career.