Grade the Trade: Golden State Warriors turn worst contract into star in new proposal

Would the Warriors accept this trade?

This is not the first time that Bleacher Report or someone else has built a fake trade built around Pascal Siakam, and it’s likely not the last. He has a high basketball IQ, has proven himself on the biggest stages and has plus size. He makes sense as a guy the Warriors’ brass would target in a trade.

The biggest problem with this trade is the unknown with Siakam. He is entering the final year of his contract, and unlike Paul doesn’t have a non-guaranteed season on the end. If the Warriors traded for him he could walk next June for nothing, and that’s an outcome the Warriors will want to avoid.

Jonathan Kuminga has plenty of upside, but it’s unlikely he ever becomes a better player than Pascal Siakam. Brandin Podziemski is useful but not a deal-breaker. On the other side of the ledger, adding in Christian Koloko gives the Dubs real size on the interior.

Given Siakam’s theoretical fit with this group, Golden State may balk at this potential deal before it even gets off the ground. As a below average shooter he would likely be paired with at least one of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, both non-shooters themselves, putting a lot of pressure on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to draw defenders out.

Getting a star-quality player is what teams do that want to win, but it’s not clear if Siakam would be the right player to get this group back to the NBA Finals. The value is fine, the viability hinges on whether Siakam commits to re-signing in Golden State, but this is a reasonable deal that could work out.

Grade: B