With a finite window of championship contention remaining in the Steph Curry and Draymond Green era, the Golden State Warriors are eager to capitalize on their last chances.
The Golden State Warriors' 2023-24 season ended disappointingly with a loss to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In tournament, ultimately finishing as the 10th seed in the NBA's Western Conference.
The team was poised for a seismic shake-up as Klay Thompson, one of the Warriors' core components and Curry's fellow "Splash Brother", left to join the Dallas Mavericks during the 2024 free agency period.
The Warriors bid farewell to a successful partnership as they shifted their focus to a future where Klay Thompson's services were no longer required. This decision was prompted by a series of injuries that had significantly impacted his productivity and effectiveness.
The 2024-25 season poses a dilemma for the Golden State Warriors, as they balance their reliance on two key veterans who were instrumental in their championship success with their collection of young talent and role players.
Despite this, the Warriors have been actively pursuing or have been linked to acquiring an elite, "win-now" caliber player to bolster their chances of winning an NBA title.
Rumors have already begun to circulate linking the Golden State Warriors to the Toronto Raptors, with the Dubs reportedly seeking to acquire a Raptors stretch big to complement their sharpshooting core.
Alternatively, as Nathaniel Holloway of The Sporting News proposes in this hypothetical trade scenario, the Golden State Warriors may opt to acquire two rotation players from Toronto who can address significant areas of roster need.
Laying out the details of the trade
While envisioning a hypothetical trade package between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors, a recent article by Nathaniel Holloway of The Sporting News provides valuable insight. Here are the key components at play:
The combined salaries of Andrew Wiggins, De'Anthony Melton, and Gui Santos amount to $40.9 million, mirroring the total compensation of the Raptors' duo, Bruce Brown and Jakob Poeltl, which stands at $42.5 million.
Melton signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors earlier this offseason, which means his contract won't become trade eligible until December 15th, when the restrictions on recently signed players are lifted.
While the article doesn't provide specific details on the number of draft picks traded to Toronto or the exact protections in place, it's evident that some form of draft capital would be necessary to facilitate this deal.
In this deal, Toronto is finally resolving the Bruce Brown saga, which has created numerous difficulties and uncertainties since his arrival. Brown was the primary player traded in the Pacers' pursuit of Pascal Siakam, and his time with the Raptors has been less than noteworthy.
In this deal, they lose their starting center, Jakob Poeltl, who's in the midst of a career breakout and historic year as the Raptors' dominant paint presence and anchor.
Toronto instead bolsters their lineup with the addition of hometown forward Andrew Wiggins, who is enjoying a resurgent season of his own, averaging 17 points and boasting an impressive 43% three-point shooting percentage.
The final piece of the puzzle is Gui Santos, a 22-year-old who has yet to make a significant impact on his Warriors tenure. While he has some untapped potential and intangibles, they don't particularly stand out, making it challenging for Toronto to become enthusiastic about him.
Should the Raptors make this trade?
Probably not.
The exchange of talent clearly benefits Golden State more than it does Toronto's efforts to remain competitive and build a well-structured NBA roster.
Toronto should seriously consider trading Bruce Brown away sooner rather than later. His tumultuous journey back to the court has left him struggling to find his footing, and if he were to join the rotation, it would likely hinder the development of younger players who are deserving of more playing time.
Considering this, Golden State would be a suitable destination for him, as he could undoubtedly contribute to their championship aspirations. Meanwhile, the Raptors should exercise caution when evaluating involving Jakob Poeltl in a trade.
It may not be wise to hastily part ways with him unless they receive a substantial return, particularly since Andrew Wiggins appears to be the best player offer Golden State has to give. Furthermore, the addition of Wiggins only complicates their already crowded forward rotation.
The Raptors wouldn't gain much from De'Anthony Melton, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in November and will be an expiring contract after this season. Melton's inclusion in the proposed deal serves primarily as salary filler, emphasizing Wiggins' status as the main asset being traded.
Toronto doesn't get any younger in the deal, aside from hopeful draft picks and an unproven Gui Santos. While Wiggins is showing improvement as a player this year, the Raptors need Poeltl more than they need Wiggins.
Toronto may be tempted to slide down the NBA standings by becoming sellers as the trade deadline approaches, considering the team's unfortunate luck this season has dealt them.
Notwithstanding, Masai Ujiri and his team have consistently demonstrated a reluctance to accept losing trade offers, preferring instead to pursue deals that prioritize improvement. Their transactions typically reflect a clear preference for upgrading their roster or positioning themselves for future success.
While there may be some initial intrigue to consider the offer, it's likely that Masai Ujiri and the organization would find more attractive deals elsewhere.
Grade: C