Warriors NBA Draft Trade Rumors: Golden State Wants to Trade for Pick in 30s
June 21, 2018
The champions are reportedly looking for additional draft picks.
According to Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, the Golden State Warriors "continue to actively explore buying in for a pick in the 30s" despite already owning the No. 28 pick. Woo noted Golden State can offer $5.1 million and recently worked out a group including Jacob Evans, Devon Hall, Gary Trent and Hamidou Diallo.
Golden State doesn't have a second-round pick in this year's draft, although it found itself in the same position last year and acquired big man Jordan Bell—whom the Chicago Bulls picked in the 30s with the 38th pick—for cash considerations on draft day.
It may sound strange suggesting the Warriors have any weaknesses, considering they captured three of the last four championships and won an NBA record 73 games and reached the NBA Finals in the year they didn't win in that span, but the team could use more depth moving forward.
The four All-Stars of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green were the only ones to average double-digit scoring totals during the playoffs, and Andre Iguodala's injury put a strain on the rotation. A handful of big guys Golden State rarely used, such as Zaza Pachulia and Damian Jones, also occupied roster spots.
Buying into a pick in the 30s would allow the Warriors the opportunity to add a couple of potential difference-makers in this year's draft with the right selections.
It's not as if Golden State hasn't found recent success in the 30s either since Green was the 35th pick in the 2012 draft and Bell appears to be an important contributor moving forward.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected the Warriors to select Khyri Thomas from Creighton with the 28th pick in his most recent mock draft, but an early second-round pick would mean adding two young playmakers to an already-loaded roster.