This proposed trade could make the Warriors unfair again

The Golden State Warriors have made a triumphant return to the top of the NBA standings, sitting at an incredible 18-2 through 20 games. The depth of the team has reinvigorated the motto ‘Strength in Numbers’, providing a playstyle and joy reminiscent of the pre-Kevin Durant Warriors some six to seven years ago.

What Bob Myers and the front office now wrestle with is whether to try to become even better, or continue this plan of mixing youth and experience.

The Golden State Warriors should already see themselves as title contenders, but one proposed trade could blow the league to shreds.

Speaking on his latest podcast with Kevin O’Connor, Bill Simmons believed the Warriors should think about a potential deal with the Indiana Pacers.

"“If I was a GM I’d be trying to trade for (Domantas) Sabonis and I keep thinking about him with the Warriors…If they decided to cash in the Wiseman chip for a big guy who fits in from a hoops IQ standpoint, Sabonis or Turner in different ways would be really fun for them”."

The turnoff for any major Warriors trade has always been the addition of Andrew Wiggins to any such proposal. Fortunately in this scenario, both Sabonis and Turner are on cheap enough contracts that the Warriors could acquire one of them without giving up their starting small forward.

So how would a trade look?

Well firstly, it’d be on the proviso that Indiana, currently 13th in the Eastern Conference, were looking to offload one of their big men and trying to rebuild. Secondly, the Warriors do have the young assets the Pacers may find desirable.

Here’s how it could look.

Golden State Warriors receive: Domantas Sabonis

Indiana Pacers receive: James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Kevon Looney and a future first round pick

Giving up Wiseman is the key piece here. The Warriors hope he’ll become better than both Sabonis and Turner, however reaching the level of the Lithuanian may be more of a question mark.

The idea that the Dubs would be mortgaging the future here isn’t really true, Sabonis is just 25 and probably hasn’t hit his peak yet either.

Moody, the 14th overall pick, is a valuable piece the Pacers could do with. Looney is there simply as a salary filler, however his value to the Warriors can’t be underestimated given he’s currently the starting center whilst also providing immense experience to team culture.

Adding Sabonis would give the Warriors an insane starting five – Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Sabonis. 

Sabonis’ play would likely fit seamlessly into the Warriors style; an elite big with great passing instincts and capacity to move the ball. Whilst Wiseman may have the higher future upside, there’s more question marks on the fit with him in the short term.

Although the Warriors would be giving up the former number two overall pick in this proposal, they do keep their hands on Jonathan Kuminga and would still have an elite sixth man in Jordan Poole.

Ultimately, it could very well be a scenario where both teams say no. The Warriors seem hellbent on this bridge to the future, in doing so they’re backing their development staff to turn Wiseman into an All-Star level talent.

It’s a tough ask to balance that with winning right away, but no one would refute what they’ve seen so far through the first month of the season.