2012 NBA Draft: Why Golden State Warriors Should Trade No. 7 Pick

Well, it's D-Day. The 2012 NBA draft has finally arrived, and in a few short hours, the Golden State Warriors will have a chance to greatly improve their already exciting roster.

Of course, the Warriors could also botch the draft and set themselves back, like they did in 2006, 2008 and virtually every single year in the 1990s.

So, while there are certainly some good options for the Warriors to select at No. 7, there are also plenty of busts available. In a year when the Warriors actually have a solid core already in place, there's got to be some way to minimize the risk of drafting the wrong player in the lottery. But how?

Trade the pick, Warriors. Trade it now. There are only a few precious hours left.

There have been plenty of rumors circulating for the past few weeks about the Warriors' openness to dealing their lottery selection, and many of them have sounded pretty plausible. So they've got options. It's no secret that this year's draft has two tiers. The first tier contains Anthony Davis, and the second tier is made up of the other 59 players to be selected.

The Warriors are not in the Anthony Davis tier.

So why not trade the seventh pick for a proven commodity that could step in and immediately improve the existing roster?

Luol Deng, Wilson Chandler, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala or even Danny Granger are all possibilities. And all of them would provide a substantial upgrade over anyone the Warriors might select at No. 7.

And with three other picks in the draft, the Warriors could still snag a couple of players with some potential. After all, given the draft's uncertainty, it's entirely possible that the Warriors' 30th overall pick could outproduce any other first-rounder (not including Anthony Davis, of course).

So, what if the Warriors agree to the rumored swap of Dorrell Wright and the No. 7 pick for the Nuggets' Wilson Chandler?

Chandler is a clear upgrade over Wright, especially in the toughness department, and the Warriors would still have the 30th pick and two second-rounders. Plus, right now, Chandler is a better player than anyone the Warriors could get at No. 7. How is this a bad idea?

And, as I said, Chandler's not the only option.

Every single one of the players listed above as possible trade acquisitions is better than the player the Warriors might get at No. 7. Now, it's certainly possible that Andre Drummond or Damian Lillard or Dion Waiters turns into a stud. But this is a team that could legitimately make the playoffs next year if they add some veteran experience.

The bottom line is the Warriors are in a position they haven't been in for a long time; they're a pretty solid team right now. Making a mistake on draft day is a huge risk. And trading a lottery pick for a known commodity—especially when that known commodity represents precisely the kind of veteran help they need—is the best way to minimize that risk.

So come on, Golden State, do the right thing.

Trade the pick.