Golden State Warriors
There were discussions held between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics last year leading up to the NBA Draft. Golden State was working hard to find a trade partner that could offer them a deal they deemed worthy for the No. 2 overall pick.
Nothing materialized, as the Warriors selected Memphis center, James Wiseman, second overall. This offseason, the Warriors once again have lottery picks, No. 7 and 14, that they are looking to exchange for a veteran that can help them win now. While they deemed Marcus Smart not enough for the second pick, he could be enough for the No. 7 or 14th pick.
Smart would bring a lot of the same qualities that Andrew Iguodala did to the Warriors when he was a key cog in their championship-winning teams. Both are excellent defenders, solid playmakers and can knock down some clutch shots.
That kind of glue guy could be what the Warriors are seeking this offseason if they are unable to swing a deal for an All-Star such as Bradley Beal. Smart could slide right into the starting lineup alongside Stephen Curry in the backcourt, giving them another defensive ace as Klay Thompson works his way back after missing the last two seasons.
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Working two inefficient shooters into a lineup would present some challenges for Steve Kerr, as Draymond Green and Smart both won’t light up the scoreboard. But, when you have scorers like Curry and Thompson out there, you can afford some defensive-heavy players such as Smart and Green.
The price for Smart also won’t break the bank. They should still have assets remaining to add another piece to the roster to help push them back toward being contenders.
