Analyzing Golden State Warriors’ moves for the likes of Kawhi Leonard this off-season, to be back in the hunt for a championship.
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Things haven’t seemed right for the Dubs ever since Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals. Before the 2019 Finals, the Warriors enjoyed a 5-year dominance in the league. The splash brothers reinvented the game of basketball with their 3-point shooting.
The Warriors hold the record for the most successful regular season in NBA history. In 2016 GSW finished the season with a 73-9 record, breaking the 1995-96 record of the Chicago Bulls.
The arrival of Kevin Durant during the 2016-17 off-season made the team a juggernaut, which was unbeatable. The Dubs would go on to win 2 out of the 3 championships in the coming years.
However, things changed when KD signed with the Brooklyn Nets, and Klay Thompson was declared out for the entire 2019-20 season due to an ACL tear sustained in Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals.
What made the nightmare worse was Steph Curry breaking his hand only a few games into the season, which would result in him being out for a large chunk of the season. The Warriors would finish with the worst record that season.
The 2020-21 season saw the brilliance of Stephen Curry. Despite the MVP caliber season of Curry, the Dubs fell short of making it into the playoffs.
Why the Warriors should trade their 2 first-round picks in the upcoming draft for Kawhi Leonard
The Dubs have the 7th and 14th pick in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft. As per reports, the Warriors’ core is lobbying the team to trade draft picks.
Trading the draft picks could be a great move for the Warriors since their top superstars are in the final few years of their prime. The front 0ffice should not waste time in rebuilding their roster.
Stephen Curry had one of the greatest years of his career this season, leading the NBA in scoring and winning the ESPY for best NBA player. Draymond Green was All-NBA Defensive First team.
The other half of the splash bother Klay Thompson would be returning to the NBA hardwood this year after missing 2 seasons due to catastrophic injuries.
This Warriors core is the same core that won the 2014-15 NBA championship and 73 games in the 2015-16 season. There is no doubt that the Warriors have championship DNA.
However, Since the departure of Durant, the team has lacked size on their roster. Thus the ideal two prospects that the Warriors should look for are Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam.
The addition of either of the above 2 players would make Warriors close to the super team they were in during Durant’s stint in GS. Leonard and Siakam not only add depth to the Warriors’ offense but also their defense.
Leonard is a 2x NBA champion and DPOY. The Clippers superstar is a 3x All-NBA Defensive First Team. Pascal Siakam is the 2019 most improved player of the year and 2019 champion with the Raptors.
The Warriors could package a deal that could include the 2 first-round 2021 draft picks, 2nd pick in the 2020 draft James Wiseman, and Kelly Oubre.
The Warriors have limited time before their championship window shuts with their core of Curry, Thompson, and Green in their respective thirties.
