The NBA chaos machine is already running in fourth gear, thanks to the deal that is expected to send Bradley Beal from the Wizards to the Suns.
And with the NBA draft — the league’s most chaotic day — on Thursday, it seems imprudent not to explore some big, bold trade possibilities for the Warriors, who are looking to improve their roster after a disappointing season that ended in the first Western Conference playoff series loss under coach Steve Kerr.
So I fired up the trade machine. We’ll start small and get big — 300 pounds big.
The Shrewd One
— Warriors receive: The Pacers’ first-round pick (No. 7)
— Pacers receive: Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors’ first-round pick (No. 19)
The Warriors shed a bit of salary and add a younger, slightly cheaper, and likely happier player with the No. 7 overall pick, while the Pacers add a much-needed athletic wing.
Why would the Warriors do this? A few reasons:
The first is that all salary savings the Warriors can make are positive. While the Warriors are well over the league’s new second luxury tax apron (by about $23 million after this trade), the punitive nature of the luxury tax is such that if you do not believe in a player making anything over the league minimum, it’s imprudent to keep that player on the roster.
And while Kuminga had his moments last season, it’s evident that the Warriors do not believe in him. Not so long as Draymond Green (who I expect to return), Gary Payton II, and Andrew Wiggins are on the roster. There was no room for Kuminga in the playoffs, and with Moses Moody’s strong postseason, there might not be as much playing time for Kuminga next regular season, either. Shaving some salary — even if it’s just six figures — is worth millions to the team.
If the Warriors believe the Kuminga experiment hasn’t and won’t work, then trying again with another No. 7 pick isn’t the worst play.
At No. 7, the Warriors can take a swing on playmaking wing Ausar Thompson or 3-and-D prospect Taylor Hendricks.
And remember: Kuminga was a Warriors CEO Joe Lacob favorite on draft day 2021. The Warriors already traded Lacob’s 2020 draft-day favorite.
The Weird One
— Warriors receive: Chris Paul, the Wizards’ second-round pick (No. 42), the Wizards’ 2027 first-round pick
— Wizards receive: Jordan Poole, the Warriors’ 2025 second-round pick
Do I personally like this move? No.
But there is too much smoke around Chris Paul to the Warriors not to entertain the notion. And the only reasonable way for Paul to be traded from his soon-to-be new team, the Wizards, to the Warriors is to send Poole east.
For Poole, the Wizards would be his show. Sink or swim, big fella.
In Paul, the Warriors would have a viable backup point guard for the first time since Shaun Livingston retired.
I suppose this would make the Warriors a better team in the short term, but I think the Wizards would have to sweeten the pot a bit to make this deal worthwhile.
But let’s not also pretend that Poole is a positive asset for the Warriors right now. He can be sold — no doubt — but there’s more than a bit of tarnish from his play this past postseason.
In the case of this trade, the Warriors have to ask if it’s better to score zero points and play 15 minutes or score zero points because you’re injured and on the bench.
It’s weird, but don’t be stunned if it happens.
The Big One
— Warriors receive: Zion Williamson
— Pelicans receive: Gordon Hayward (or Terry Rozier, if the Pelicans aren’t concerned about holding salary), the Hornets’ first-round pick (No. 2), and a Warriors 2026 first-round pick
— Hornets receive: Jordan Poole, the Pacers’ first-round pick (No. 7), the Warriors’ first-round pick (No. 19, traded after selection), the Hornets 2025 second-round pick
— Pacers receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Pelicans first-round pick (No. 14)
You wanna get crazy? Let’s get crazy.
The Warriors trade Kuminga and Poole (and some first-round picks) in a deal together and land the former No. 1 overall pick, Williamson, who has been riddled with injuries in New Orleans and has fallen out of favor with players, coaches and leadership.
The trade would be the ultimate bet-on-yourself gamble for the Warriors. By acquiring Williamson, the Dubs would be buying low on a generational talent with the expectation that the leadership of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, as well as the team’s training infrastructure, led by Rick Celebrini, will allow him to reach his full potential in the league.
Given Williamson’s talent — and the Pelicans’ success when he has been on the court — the reward is worth the risk.
And make no mistake, it’s a risk. There’s a reason Williamson is available for trade: He’s consistently been out of shape — his Pelicans contract reportedly features a clause that requires him to stay under 295 pounds — and there’s little reason to believe that hasn’t been a major factor in his countless injuries. He’s played only 29 games over the last two seasons, and 114 in his four-year NBA career.
But he’s averaged 26 points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 blocks/steals per game as a pro. He’s a wrecking ball with absurd leaping ability and guard-like handles. The only thing that can stop him is himself.
Trading the disgruntled Poole and Kuminga, in addition to a no-man’s-land pick in Thursday’s first round, is a pittance to what an active Williamson would cost.
This is the kind of bold move that can ascend the Warriors back to title-favorite status. Depending on how Poole and Kuminga play elsewhere, it could also be a crash-and-burn scenario.
But when else can the Warriors reasonably add a talent like Williamson? And if the Dubs can’t bet on themselves, who can?
