The Rockets failed to reach an agreement with Victor Oladipo on the contract extension. After that, the Rockets have publicly sold Oladipo throughout the league. The league's play-off rules make more and more teams think they have a chance to make the playoffs. Therefore, the competition in the trading market will be unprecedentedly fierce, and the intensity will be no less intense than the playoffs. There is news that the Golden State Warriors intend to continue to strengthen before the deadline and strive to get rid of the embarrassing position of ninth in the Western Conference. If the Warriors want to get out of this mess, they're going to need a big bang, and the Rockets have the best players the Warriors can get on the market, making the two teams perfect trade partners.
According to a report from The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, the Warriors are interested in bringing in Victor Oladipo. Oladipo can serve as the Warriors' second ball-handling point, second offensive initiator and second scorer, helping Stephen Curry. In addition, Oladipo can also strengthen their perimeter defense.
Although many teams are more willing to exchange players with multi-year contracts, the Warriors are an exception. They now very much hope to get players whose contracts are expiring in the transaction. Although Klay Thompson is out for the season, he will return next year, and his contract will be one of the most expensive in the league.
Purely from a team needs perspective, Oladipo is a great fit for the Warriors, but the question is whether the Warriors are willing to pay for a player who may only have an impact on their playoff performance this year. Pay a hefty fee. The Warriors' own first-round picks are only left in 2023 and 2027. In addition, they also have a first-round pick protected by the Timberwolves' top four picks in 2021. If the protection is triggered this year, it will become an unprotected first-round pick in 2022. .
The Rockets and Warriors were once the most fiercely competitive opponents in the league, but in the past time, a lot of things have happened to both teams, and a lot of changes have occurred. Now they should put their past Grudges put aside, it was necessary for both teams to make this deal. The following are three trading scenario guesses.
Trade Conjecture 1:
In this trade plan, the Rockets trade Victor Oladipo and Daniel House to Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors in 2023 and a first-round pick in 2027. From the Warriors' perspective, this deal will not only allow them to improve their current situation, but also help their future salary space.
Oladipo is an upgraded version of Wiggins. He can provide the fire support that Curry desperately needs. Although Wiggins is a good finishing player on the offensive end, he lacks the ability to create opportunities for his teammates, which puts a great burden on Draymond Green and Curry.
Green and Curry are definitely not bad opportunity creators, but the Warriors are now a little too dependent on their offense on the offensive end, which also makes the Warriors' offense either smooth or a mess. When Curry and Green are on the court at the same time, the Warriors can play their real offense. However, when the two are off the court, the Warriors become a mess. Even if only one of these two people can appear on the court, the Warriors can still score, but it is obvious that the Warriors need a third player, but this person will definitely not be Wiggins. Unlike Wiggins, Oladipo can be perfect. He integrates well into the Warriors and can connect his teammates on the court.
The Warriors are currently 19 wins and 18 losses, but after having Oladipo, they have a chance to rush to fourth in the Western Conference. For the Warriors, this trade plan is considered a big deal. They need to use future assets in exchange for short-term lineup upgrades, but no matter what, even if they don't trade with the Rockets, they are more willing to use Victoria Kings traded for an expiring contract.
Although Wiggins has two seasons left on his contract, his contract is too big. The Warriors will definitely try their best to reduce their total salary before the trade deadline. Send Wiggins away. They save $31.5 million in salary for the 2021-2022 season and $33.6 million for the 2022-2023 season. So it would be good for them to get Oladipo, who would both make the team better and improve their financial situation going forward.
Daniel House was added to balance the deal, but he is a cheap rotation player who can play his value in the right position. For the Rockets, they got Wiggins and two first-round picks. Since Curry, Green, and Thompson are still in their prime, their first-round pick in 2023 will not be too valuable, but in 2027 ’s first-round pick could be very valuable. By the time the 2027 NBA Draft arrives, all three will be 37 or 38 years old, and at least one of the three will have to retire. By then, the Warriors may become one of the worst teams in the league.
In this transaction, the Rockets received the future assets they have always desired, and also received a player who can help the team in the short term-Wiggins. Although Wiggins is basically unlikely to become a superstar, he still has the opportunity to become a quasi-All-Star player and gain some value with the Rockets, thereby helping the Rockets with future transactions.
Trade Conjecture 2:
In this trade plan, the Warriors retain all their draft picks, but in order to get Victor Oladipo, they need to give up last year’s second pick James Wiseman was selected with the first pick, and Kelly Oubre needed to be cleared due to salary space considerations. Although doing so will put tremendous pressure on the Warriors who want to win now, the benefits of this deal are also obvious.
Wiseman is incredibly rough, and even if he can become an impactful player, it will have to wait until the Warriors' core trio is over its prime. The Wolves' first-round pick can alleviate the pressure of the Warriors losing Wiseman to a certain extent. The Wolves' pick is protected in the top four picks this year. If it fails to materialize this year, it will become an unprotected first-round pick next year.
The 2021 draft is full of talents. Many players have already become famous at the age of 16. Many player analysts have said that there are four or five players in this draft in 2020. The draft can basically lock in the No. 1 pick. Although Wiseman is the second pick in 2020, the quality of the draft is not the same every year. If Wiseman is allowed to participate in the 2021 draft, he may not be among the top ten picks.
Wiseman needs an environment that allows him to fail. He must grow in the game. Wiseman has the potential to be an elite five-position defender, but he didn't get enough touches with the Warriors to learn how to play in the NBA. The Rockets can provide Wiseman with a long growth cycle to see if he, who still needs polishing in all aspects, can fulfill his potential here.
Trade Conjecture Three:
In this trade plan, the Rockets sent Victor Oladipo and PJ Tucker to the Warriors in exchange for Andrew Wiggin Sri Lanka and the Wolves' 2021 first-round pick. This deal is a bit pricey for the Warriors, but it raises both their floor and ceiling in a way that no other deal can.
Oladipo's personal ability and his influence on the court can greatly increase the Warriors' upper limit, while Tucker can increase their lower limit. With Kelly Oubre out, the Warriors don't have many NBA-caliber rotation options at the forward position. Tucker's presence can fill this gap for them. As a center or power forward in a small lineup, he allows the Warriors to field one of the fastest and most lethal lineups in the league. A lineup composed of Curry, Green, Oladipo, Oubre, and Tucker can not only realize unlimited defense changes inside and outside, but also open up the offensive space on the offensive end. These are undoubtedly the advantages of the Warriors. The style of play I miss the most this season.
Although the dead lineup the Warriors used to win championships has long since disappeared over the past two seasons, this trade may allow them to regain that feeling. Just like in "Star Wars", rebuilding the Death Star requires a huge price, and the same applies to the Warriors.
The Wolves' 2021 first-round pick can be said to be one of the most valuable trading chips in the league. Even though the pick is protected by the top four picks this year, next year this pick will become an unprotected first-round pick. This means that even if it cannot be cashed out this year, it is still a valuable asset.