Grade the Trade: Warriors become title-favs in proposed deal with Raptors

After an inconsistent 2022–23 season for the Golden State Warriors, there were expectations that the team would look to shake things up this summer. They did make a splashy move to acquire Chris Paul, but that trade was poorly received, and aside from bringing back Draymond Green, they weren’t able to do much to improve their roster.

However, an ambitious trade proposal from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has the Warriors making a big trade before the start of training camp. Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam has appeared in trade rumors recently, and he is definitely available.

After all, he is entering the final year of his deal, and it’s unclear whether he’d re-sign with Toronto or whether they would want to offer a max contract to a 29-year-old. That, at least in theory, opens the door for a team such as the Warriors to swoop in and acquire him, but is it realistic? Let’s grade the trade.

Grade the Trade: The Warriors add Pascal Siakam from the Raptors in this deal.

In the proposed trade, the Warriors would receive Siakam from the Raptors in exchange for Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Poziemski, and a top-seven protected first-round pick in 2028. Compared to the offer that Toronto turned down from the Atlanta Hawks, that proposal might be more appealing.

After all, Paul has a non-guaranteed contract after next season, which would ensure that the Raptors wouldn’t have to pay him beyond 2023–24. They could also look to trade him after acquiring him from the Warriors for more assets. In addition to Paul, they would add 2021’s seventh overall pick, Kuminga, and the Warriors’ 2023 first-round selection, Podziemski, and a distant first-round pick.

That pick could be particularly valuable for the Raptors since Steph Curry is 35 and Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are both 33. In 2028, the Warriors’ big three would all likely be retired by then. Getting a veteran that they could flip, a ready-to-contribute rookie, and a potential lottery pick is a good return for a star on an expiring deal.

From the Warriors’ perspective, adding Siakam for the cost of a veteran who’s a questionable fit, a prospect, and essentially two first-round picks would be a win and would be a game-changer in the West. A lineup of Curry, Thompson, Siakam, Green, and Looney would give Golden State some major offensive firepower.

Better yet, they would have players such as Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins to bolster their second unit. Whether Golden State would make such a drastic move is unclear, but as far as the proposed trade is concerned, the biggest asset they are giving up is a pick in 2028 that will be no higher than seventh.

They are already well over the dreaded second apron, meaning that they will be severely limited in ways that they can improve their roster, but having Paul and his $30 million contract gives them the rare chance to try and trade for a star. As for Toronto, the assets they would receive in this hypothetical trade are certainly competitive and would likely at least be considered. As a result, Bleacher Report’s trade proposal gets a B.