If the Warriors Get the No. 1 Pick, Here's What We Should Do With It

The Golden State Warriors currently have the fourth-best shot at the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.

Currently, the universal consensus No.1 pick is John Wall, the one-and-done Kentucky point guard who's being hyped as a surreal combination of Derrick Rose and Chris Paul.

However, it's debatable how much use on his own Wall would be to the Warriors, as we already have a backcourt of two short guards (Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis), one of whom (Curry) is our point guard of the future.

Therefore, if we do draft Wall, his value to us might be in trade bait, especially in allowing us to dump some of our bloated contracts.

I started pondering some potential trade scenarios before one stuck in my mind. 

Kings get: John Wall, Monta Ellis, and a draft pick of their choice.

Warriors get: Tyreke Evans.

Just look at that for a second. Then look at it again. Then imagine a backcourt of Curry and Evans for the Warriors.

With Evans in his more natural position of shooting guard, you have two guys who are triple-double threats every night and each capable of the odd 30-20-10 or 40-10-10 game.

Two guards who, together, automatically form the most lethal backcourt in the NBA (especially in an open system). No competition whatsoever. A facilitator and deadly three-point shooter along with a guy who basically gets to the hoop at will.

Plus, since both Curry and Evans are (by all accounts) good guys who want to win, you'd have to say that Evans would be willing to take more of an off-the-ball role (unlike, say, Ellis) if it helps the team and he can be the No. 1 scoring option.

Just allow yourselves to dream of it again and try not to have a public orgasm. Even defensively we'd be alright, as Evans is big enough and a good enough defender to mark taller, more athletic two's.

And it's not like the Kings lose anything either.

They get Wall, who can do everything Evans can and be an excellent playmaker—call him the evolutionary Evans. As much as I like Ellis, he seems like he could use a change of scenery right now.

While he hasn't really behaved himself with Curry, you'd have to say playing with a guy like Wall, who everyone agrees is a superstar PG along with a mate of LeBron James, might compel him to return to an off-the-ball role. Plus, the Kings also have a high draft pick this year and can't fall past sixth.

Let's say they get the third or fourth pick and can draft/trade for DeMarcus Cousins, who just happens to have played with Wall in Kentucky and formed a combination with him. How do you reckon that'd transfer to the pros?

A nucleus of Wall, Ellis, and Cousins, with Casspi shooting three's and Landry doing the dirty work around the rim, is a nasty team.

In short, this trade benefits both teams massively.

Along with creating the "Ultimate Backcourt of Ultimate Destiny" in Oakland, the trade would also function as a useful salary dump for Ellis, as the Kings have the cap room to take him on but aren't likely to snare any big names through free agency (unless the Maloofs can win them over by promising a move to Vegas in a couple of years—but even then, it's a stretch).

This has two benefits in that it makes us more appealing to potential buyers and it will allow us to compete for free agents in 2011.

While everyone is all excited about "LeBrade-A-Palooza 2010", just take a look ahead one year and see who may enter the market. Carmelo Anthony, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki (unless he opts out this year), and David West—all solid guys.

If we make this trade and can dump Maggette for expiring contracts (because we realistically can't hope for much else from him right now), we'll be able to clear enough cap space to make a run at at least one of those guys.

With (hopefully) a new owner, a chance to pick your new coach and possibly GM, the best fans in the NBA, a hell of a young core, and a big market, why wouldn't you come to the Bay? Imagine Yao, for instance, playing in the Bay Area with San Francisco's huge Chinese population. We'd make enough on jersey sales alone to pay for his contract. 

Let's all imagine this future. Imagination's probably all we'll have when we wind up with the sixth pick and praying to God that a starting lineup of Curry, Ellis, Al-Farouq Aminu, Randolph, and Biedrins can somehow stay fit, stay confident, and get us back to the playoffs.

That would be nice, but doesn't the Bay deserve more right now?