A solid playoff bound team may not want to take on Zion Williamson and the risks associated with the former number one overall pick, but the same parameters may not apply to a team in no man’s land team like the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors were instantly mentioned by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons as a possible suitor for Williamson before February’s mid-season deadline, with the franchise possessing expiring contracts and draft assets to potentially make a move for the 6’6” forward.
Bill Simmons maybe onto something with Warriors-Zion Williamson trade idea
Williamson is actually coming off one of the rare healthier seasons of his career, playing in 62 games where he averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists on a highly efficient 60% shooting from the floor.
Despite this, there’s still enough injury concerns to believe that Williamson wouldn’t cost the kind of trade package reflective of his talent. The risk therefore maybe mitigated enough to be a worthwhile move, and the upside could be significant if Williamson can put it all together outside the often dysfunctional New Orleans franchise.
Replacing Draymond Green at the power forward position, for example, with Williamson would create a dynamic forward duo with he and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Suddenly the Warriors would have a very different looking offense with real rim pressure. The spacing concerns would still exist if a trade didn’t involve injured six time All-Star Jimmy Butler, potentially opening up a logjam in the frontcourt.
Warriors might need a center more than Zion Williamson
The reality is that Kristaps Porzingis’ latest health concern means Golden State may be left with little choice but to address their center position, rather than take on another forward option like Williamson when their depth looks reasonable in that area with the development of Lendeborg and Gui Santos.
The irony is that a four-five duo of Williamson and Porzingis actually works perfectly in theory, but they may barely play together such is the health concerns over both players. Nevertheless, Golden State would ideally have a stretch big to complement Williamson’s interior dominance were he acquired in a trade.
If the Warriors are hanging unthreateningly around the Play-In at the deadline, and if next year’s free agency options don’t appear overly enticing, Williamson’s could certainly emerge as a viable option to help kickstart a fading franchise back into genuine relevance.
The Pelicans are going to be one of the more interesting rival teams to monitor as the season progresses, with the Warriors also holding well publicized interest in Trey Murphy III as a trade target.
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