Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Golden State Warriors

In the grand scheme of things, whether or not the Golden State Warriors want to admit it, they are not championship contenders, at least by the looks of things early on, in a loaded Western Conference. Could they sneak into the playoffs as a lower-seed? Absolutely the Warriors have a chance to make the playoffs, but overall, they do not look like a legit title contender. 

With that being said, if things do not improve by midseason and management realizes that they will not be a legit playoff threat, then they should be very willing to move on from one of their bigger contracts in order to not only free up cap space, but bring in talent to surround their stars with for years to come. 

Dwight Powell, Jalen Brunson and Josh Green are all under contract for a couple years to come, which may not be ideal for a team that already has financial troubles, but all three players could be excellent role players for a team that is not done with their dynasty just yet. Steph Curry still has plenty left to prove in the league and Klay Thompson is going to return with a big chip on his shoulder, giving Golden State all the fuel they need to pursue more championships. 

With these three role players coming off the bench and playing big minutes in the second-unit, the Warriors not only would have the depth they need, but reliable options they have not had in two years. 

The most important aspect about this trade for Golden State though is the first-round pick they would be receiving. Golden State has the rights to Minnesota’s first-round pick next year, which is projected to be a lottery-pick at this point, and with the addition of the Mavs’ first-round pick in 2022, the Warriors would have 2 first-round picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. 

The goal of the Warriors’ front-office right now is to continue drafting high-level talent to build a youthful core for the future to play alongside guys like Steph and Klay in their pursuit for more titles. Not only can they continue building this young core through the draft by making this trade with the Mavericks, but they can continue contending for championships for years to come. 

As much as Draymond Green has been a big part of this organization over the years, it may be in their best interest to trade him and set themselves up for future success.