Grade the Trade: Golden State Warriors mortgage future for 2x time All-Star and backup big in three-team mock deal
On the back of their disappointing 9-11 start to the season, speculation grows on the Golden State Warriors' chances of making a significant trade before February's deadline.
The franchise's underwhelming start, which has seen them lose 10 of their last 14 games, has flown directly in the face of their championship ambitions with a roster full of aging, win-now talent.
One proposed trade sees the Golden State Warriors give up much of their future for a two-time All-Star and backup center.
As names float about in regard to who the Warriors could trade for, one player is a constant source of speculation -- Pascal Siakam. With the Toronto Raptors equally battling with a 9-11 record, is this the season Masai Ujiri finally pulls the trigger on a Siakam deal?
Recently, The Ringer's Bill Simmons suggested a Warriors-Raptors trade surrounding Siakam makes "too much sense". He's right in a way -- the two-time All-Star would fill Golden State's needs of a second scorer behind Stephen Curry, as well as adding another two-way forward into the mix.
But the price still has to be right, particularly considering Siakam is on an expiring deal and can become a free agent in 2024. In a recent article, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report proposed a three-way deal that would see Golden State acquire Siakam and New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein. Here's how it looked:
Golden State Warriors Receive: Pascal Siakam and Isaiah Hartenstein
Toronto Raptors Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Evan Fournier, Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes, New York's 2024 and 2028 first-round pick, and Golden State's 2028 first-round pick
New York Knicks Receive: OG Anunoby, Moses Moody and Gary Payton II
Although only two former All-Star players change hands, the fact nine players get moved would have this classified as a blockbuster trade. Before we look into it further from a Warrior perspective, let's analyze why the Raptors and Knicks may do this deal.