For many Warriors fans, it would be unthinkable for the franchise to trade Steph Curry and Draymond Green, but one NBA insider argues that it is absolutely necessary.
After watching the Warriors get completely frustrated and dominated by the Celtics on their home court, O’Connor had a thought.
“The path Boston has taken to become a powerhouse today is an accurate lesson for the Golden State to learn,” he wrote.
“Nearly 12 years ago, Danny Ainge made the kind of brutal, franchise-defining move that separates the best front offices from the greats. Traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn for a chest of picks. At the time, it wasn’t clear that the Celtics’ royal trade for those picks would turn out to be Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the foundation of the team that is now a perennial contender. But here’s the point: Ainge didn’t wait for things to fall apart. You made a tough call before it was too late.”
The Warriors seem to be in the same situation right now. Even the thought of selling Steph is almost too much.
But when the Celtics did it with Pierce and Garnett, it was viewed the same way, and Boston is still reaping the rewards to this day.
A front office like Golden State’s needs to think carefully about their options, because if they don’t, the dynasty they’ve spent so long building will “slowly crumble”, O’Connor believes.
“… As of today, Curry and Green are both good enough and signed under contracts long enough that a return would be important.”
An insider even proposed a big trade between the Warriors and Rockets, which would position the Dubs in a good position for the future, while giving Houston a stacked, winning team now.
Rockets get:
Stephen Curry
Draymond Green
Buddy Hield
Lindy Waters
Heroes get:
Reed Sheppard
Cam Whitmore
Expiring salaries (Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jae’Sean Tate)
The first four are unprotected (one in 2027 by the Suns, two in 2029 at best from the Mavericks, Rockets and Suns, and one in 2031 by the Rockets)
Three first-round trades (2025 rights to the Suns, 2027 rights to the Nets or Rockets, and 2028 rights to the Rockets)
It’s certainly an exciting prospect to consider, but it’s hard to see team owner Joe Lacob discarding two players who have brought him great success over the years.
READ MORE: Steve Kerr Responds Positively to Warriors’ Bad Home Court Loss
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