DEAL FOR BEAL?
Warriors would need to trade picks for Wizards guard, who could be a good fit
As Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal considers his future, his decision could have a major impact on the Warriors, who have the Nos. 7 and 14 picks in Thursday’s draft.
Reports indicate that Beal could ask the Wizards to trade him as soon as this week. Such a request would start an NBA domino effect that the Warriors hope involves them. Let’s dive in on what acquiring Beal would mean for the Warriors, why they should do it and a backup plan in case they can’t swing a deal.
IS BEAL THE MISSING PIECE? >> Ifa trade is inevitable, moving Beal prior to the draft would be ideal for both sides. League sources have indicated that the Warriors have been aggressive in pursuing All-Star caliber players using the Nos. 7 and 14 picks as trade bait. As The Athletic reported last week, Beal is atop Golden State’s wishlist.
The reason is clear: Even with rumors swirling around Portland’s Damian Lillard and Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons, neither appears to be on the move anytime soon. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported over the weekend that Golden State is not interested in Simmons and league sources expect the 76ers’ asking price to be high. Meanwhile, many across the league don’t expect Lillard to be moved until
closer to the regular season.
But it’s not as if Beal is a consolation prize. At 28, Beal is one of the most dynamic scorers in the league. Only a few months ago, he and Stephen Curry vied for the scoring title, with Curry (32 points per game) edging Beal (31.3) by a slim margin. Adding another of the league’s top scorers to Curry and the returning Klay Thompson would give the Warriors the offensive firepower rivaled only by the Brooklyn Nets. And unlike those Nets teams, the Warriors would still have an All-NBA-level defender in Draymond Green as an anchor on that end of the court.
WHAT WOULD IT COST? >>
If Washington decides to move Beal, the expectation is that they’d want a return that would set them up for a rebuild that includes multiple first-round picks and a promising young player. What the Wizards could get for Beal is likely somewhere between what the Houston Rockets got for James Harden (three first-round picks, four firstround pick swaps and multiple young players) and what the New Orleans Pelicans received for Jrue Holiday (two first-round picks, two first-round pick swaps and multiple players).
The Warriors’ offer would start with the seventh and 14th picks in the draft and likely include Andrew Wiggins for salary-matching purposes. Washington may demand second-year center James Wiseman and future first-round picks. If Golden State agrees with Memphis to lift the protections on its 2024 firstround pick (protected for selections 1-4 in 2024, No. 1 in 2025 and unprotected in 2026), it could conceivably include 2026 and 2028 first-round picks.
That’s the all-in offer: Two young players and four first-round picks.
OTHER TRADE OPTIONS >>
If Beal ultimately decides to stay put in Washington for another year and enter free agency in 2022, there may be other options for Golden State on draft night. General manager Bob Myers has been active in trade calls, but expects the best offers to come closer to Thursday night.
Multiple reports have indicated that Utah could make Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic available. Both would be good fits with the Warriors, with Ingles capable of running offense, making open shots and switching on defense.
Bogdanovic, who shot 39% from 3-point range last season, is one of the better floor-spacing forwards in the league.
Scanning the league for other options, if the Grizzlies want to move up from No. 10 to No. 7, is it worth Steven Adams, Kyle Anderson or De’Anthony Melton?
What does Dallas want in return for Josh Richardson?
Can the Warriors pry Myles Turner away from Indiana?
None of those deals amount to landing Beal, but they could be more helpful in the immediate term than a pair of rookies.
WHO SHOULD THE WARRIORS TAKE AT NO. 7? >>
If no trade materializes before the Warriors are on the clock Thursday night, they’ll have to pick someone. There’s been speculation that G League Ignite’s Jonathan Kuminga could fall to No. 7. If that’s the case, it would be tough for the Warriors to pass on him given his upside and potential value in a later trade.
But unless the Warriors are certain they can flip Kuminga for an immediate contributor, they should not draft him. Despite Kuminga’s tantalizing size, athleticism and shot-creating potential, the fact that he is sliding down draft boards indicates that he doesn’t have much value. And while the idea of pairing Wiseman with Kuminga as future building blocks could be enticing, the Warriors don’t have the means to tap into Kuminga’s vast upside. Kuminga, 18, needs several years of playing time and leeway to blossom, and Golden State can’t afford to give him either while attempting to return to the playoffs.
Instead, the Warriors should draft someone who can contribute meaningful minutes right away and fits their system.
Australia’s Josh Giddey checks the boxes. At 6-foot-8 and 205 pounds, Giddey is a natural playmaker who can make every pass on the court. Though there are questions about his on-ball defense and jump shot (31.1% from 3-point range last season), he has the size and touch to improve in both areas.
Players with his blend of size and basketball feel are rare, and though he doesn’t scream star potential the same way as someone like Kuminga, he has the makings to play in the NBA for a long time.
Playing in Australia’s NBL last season, Giddey stuffed the stat sheet averaging 11.4 points, 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds.