Shams: Warriors Will 'Look Hard' at Packaging 2020 1st-Round Draft Pick in Trade
June 10, 2020
The Golden State Warriors could land the No. 1 pick of the 2020 NBA draft, but they could use that pick as trade bait instead of finding a future star.
"They're going to look hard at maybe packaging the pick," NBA insider Shams Charania said on Complex's Load Management podcast (h/t Sam Amico of Sports Illustrated). "You're looking at a veteran team, and there's already some veteran free agents that are looking at the Warriors. They're looking at them gearing up and loading back up."
The Warriors finished the season with the worst record in the NBA at 15-50, giving the team 14 percent odds to land the No. 1 pick, per Tankathon. There is a 52.1 percent chance Golden State gets a top-four pick.
If the restarted 2019-20 season begins on schedule on July 31, the draft lottery will be Aug. 25 and the draft will be Oct. 15.
The Warriors haven't drafted in the lottery since taking Harrison Barnes with the No. 7 overall pick in 2012.
Golden State was in the midst of a dynasty with five straight appearances in the NBA finals and three titles in this stretch, but the departure of Kevin Durant in free agency and injuries led to a quick fall from the top.
Klay Thompson missed the entire year because of a torn ACL while Stephen Curry was limited to just five games because of a broken wrist. Even Draymond Green missed more than 20 games with injuries.
Even without Durant, this roster can contend for a title when it is at 100 percent, especially with the addition of Andrew Wiggins. Using the high draft pick to land another impact player could be devastating for the rest of the NBA.
However, there are several quality options in the draft if the Warriors keep the pick.
Though there are no sure-fire No. 1 prospects like Zion Williamson last season, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards all represent high-upside options. If Golden State lands the No. 1 pick and keeps it, the team will "likely" use it on Edwards, according to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The decision could come down to the lottery results and the offers from around the league.