'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After long-term injuries and bad fits crippled their chances in the 2019-20 season, the Golden State Warriors are back again for a run at the top of the Western Conference. The return of the Splash Brothers Steph Curry and Klay Thompson almost guarantees that the Warriors will be a playoff team. Additionally, they're likely to consider a few NBA trade options prior to the start of the next season.
NBA Trade Options: Golden State Warriors' quest to bring together a championship-caliber roster
The Golden State Warriors will be looking to assimilate a squad comparable to the ones from their dynastic years and they just might have the required tools to that. On that note, let us look at the three most valuable assets that the Warriors can flip in return for players that will fill out their roster.
#1 No.2 overall draft pick
The biggest positive coming out of the Golden State Warriors' worst season in almost two decades was that they ended up with the second overall pick for the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.
There are several ways to go here. The Warriors' front office can explore various NBA trade options with teams looking to move up on the draft. They could also simply select the best player available on the board – LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards in all likelihood – with their pick and then flip him over for a meaningful package in return.
There's always this possibility that the Golden State Warriors could just draft a player with this pick to fill out a need. But the Warriors are in luxury tax purgatory anyway and considering that they don't really need to make the most out of this not so loaded class, they're likely to move down the draft at the very least.
#2 Andrew Wiggins
Andrew Wiggins seemed to have turned a corner at the beginning of this season, as he averaged around the 25 points per game mark for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He fizzled out though and was eventually used as the makeweight for the D'Angelo Russell trade.
Andrew Wiggins' future with the Golden State Warriors doesn't look too bright either. Even if he shows signs of improvement, Wiggins still has three years left on his 5-year $147 million extension and the finances just don't work out considering he'll only be the third option on the Golden State Warriors.
With the help of the second overall pick to sweeten the deal, this will possibly be the best time for Bob Myers to consider NBA trade options for Wiggins that could help them land a legitimate third superstar.
#3 $17.2 million trade exception
The $17.2 million trade exception that the Golden State Warriors created by sending Andre Iguodala to Memphis Grizzlies last summer helped then cut down on luxury tax bill. This time around, they could use the same exception to go all out on a mid-sized contract for a veteran.
There are several franchises looking to dump salary off their books due to the financial implications of the coronavirus outbreak. The Golden State Warriors can use their trade exception to absorb the contract of some useful role player whom they think would tip them over the edge in the race for the NBA title.
Also read: NBA Rumors - 5 Players Golden State Warriors can sign with their trade exception this offseason
Guess the Lakers players!
