The Golden State Warriors are down 2-1 in the NBA Finals, and with Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, and most certainly second-year center James Wiseman all out of the rotation with the latter third missing the entire season, fans could wonder just what could’ve been.
While it seems most would agree that trading any of those three wouldn’t have been the popular answer, one can always ponder what could’ve been.
The Boston Celtics are up 2-1 on the Golden State Warriors, and having added some size prior to the trade deadline could’ve been extremely helpful.
Now, this also oisn’t to say the Warriors are doomed. They just need to defend home court and win one game on the road in two potential chances. That’s most certainly possible, but it’s not ideal to again be trailing.
The Warriors were among several contenders that passed on adding talent at the trade deadline. Teams like Phoenix, Golden State and many others seemed set in their ways and wouldn’t have wanted to part with their young talent.
Unlike Phoenix and others, the Dubs were among the many teams able to potentially trade young, appealing talent for players capable of instantly making an impact. They opted not to.
Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody, mainly Moody and Wiseman, would’ve made sense to pair together. Kuminga always seemed off the table for opponents. A name that clearly could’ve paid dividends in these NBA Finals is Houston’s Christian Wood.
Wood is 6-foot-10 and would add elite-level three-point shooting to the Dubs’ frontcourt. The current starting combination of Kevon Looney and Draymond Green offers little three-point shooting.
Wood averaged 1.9 threes per game and shot 39% from deep this past season. That would’ve opened the Warriors offensive spacing quite a bit. Would he have been available for a price the Warriors would’ve been okay with?
That question will remain unknown, but there’s no doubt that Wood’s style could’ve been huge for the team right now, especially as Boston is able to stay big in their frontcourt with Al Horford while also keeping their spacing offesnively.
Wood would’ve been a quintessential addition.
The past is just that, and there’s no real guarantee Golden State would’ve been better off with the shooting Wood would’ve provided. However, it does make sense and would’ve addressed a current problem for the Dubs.