The Golden State Warriors just earned their fourth NBA title in eight seasons, rebounding from a two-year break to return to the top. Less than a week after winning the title, Golden State is already preparing for the 2022 NBA Draft. It has three selections, including the 28th pick in the first round Thursday night.
Multiple reports suggest that the Warriors are looking to move that 28th pick. There’s a few obvious reasons for this.
Golden State needs to find a way to get youngsters Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman more playing time next season. Any rookie selected at 28 would likely find himself completely out of the rotation.
Moving the 28th pick for future assets or even a proven player could make sense. A trade-up from their original pick to find a target player could also work.
Trading the pick for a future asset would not be a surprise. As Woo notes, the Warriors already have a record payroll and want to integrate their recent lottery picks into a veteran rotation who will be champing at the bit to defend their title.
The Warriors know with 100 percent certainty that Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green will be back. While key pieces Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins are eligible for extensions, both are under contract for next season regardless. They’ll be back as well.
Golden State reportedly will try to bring back free agents Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, while Wiseman, Moody and Kuminga all will be given the opportunity to show what they can do with increased minutes.
That’s 10 roster spots already accounted for, not to mention any free-agent additions or the returns of incumbents Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damion Lee, some of whom certainly could return.
While adding a young asset to a veteran core has worked for the Warriors in the past, they might decide that it might not be worth it for this season given their roster compilation.
Regardless, we will find out soon, with the 2022 NBA Draft set for 5 p.m. on Thursday from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Payroll being a barrier
Boasting the highest payroll in NBA history, it’s going to be difficult for the Warriors to match any salaries in a draft-day trade. Being over the luxury tax, this is magnified even further. Short of trading James Wiseman, the options are going to be extremely limited here. Perhaps, Golden State looks to add another big to the mix by trading the 28th selection and one of its second-round picks. It could also simply bite the bullet and trade Wiseman as a way to open up avenues to find an immediate impact performer.
One idea would be to send Wiseman and the 28th pick to the San Antonio Spurs for veteran center Jakob Poeltl and the 20th selection. San Antonio gets a young potential franchise cornerstone at a position that Gregg Popovich values. It does so by moving down just a few spots in the first round and trading a player who might not have a future with the Spurs.
In return, Golden State acquires a starter-caliber center should Kevon Looney depart in free agency. It also uses this 20th pick to trade for a future first-round selection.
