Does this trade work for the Golden State Warriors?
The Warriors solve several problems with this deal. They solve the Andrew Wiggins conundrum (“now that we have him, what do we do with him?”), they add a talented big in Myles Turner who they hope can hold his own against Anthony Davis, and they add a great backcourt defender in Gary Harris.
They add $7.1 million in salary, but now that they don’t have to pay the rookie scale for the No. 2 pick, they get to dodge that $7.6 million salary, actually saving them about half a million dollars in 2020-21 salary. For a team already deep in the luxury tax, that’s a huge deal.
The Warriors are giving up two of their own draft picks, but those picks are for the two seasons they’re least concerned about the draft as they try to get Steph, Klay and Dray another championship or two before the clock runs out. They also get back a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick from the Indiana Pacers, so a net of minus-one picks isn’t bad considering what this deal does for them.
This deal does indeed work for the Golden State Warriors, and it’s one they should jump at if they get the opportunity.