The Warriors‘ dynasty almost didn’t happen. Golden State was looking for an All-Star back in 2011 and the franchise offered Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to New Orleans in exchange for Chris Paul, Ethan Strauss writes in The Victory Machine (h/t Dan Feldman of NBC Sports).
Paul, whose contract expired at the end of that season, reportedly told the Warriors that he would not re-sign with them, which nixed the negotiations. Paul was later dealt to the Lakers in a trade that was vetoed. He ultimately ended up on the Clippers via another trade.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- If the NBA doesn’t resume, the Warriors are guaranteed a top-five pick and Anthony Slater of The Athletic examines the team’s options with that selection. As Slater details, trading it away for a proven vet is worth exploring, especially if there are no surefire prospects in the draft, as some believe.
- Trading down is an option for the Warriors in the draft and Slater (in the same piece) proposes a fun hypothetical deal that sends Kelly Oubre and the Suns‘ pick (projected to be No. 10) to the Warriors for their top-five pick. Oubre would fit in nicely with the team’s core and his salary would fit into the team’s $17.2MM trade exception.
- Suns GM James Jones said that Oubre, who underwent meniscus surgery back in February, and Frank Kaminsky, who was dealing with a patella stress fracture, have both medically healed, Gina Mizell of The Athletic tweets. Both have “kind of pressed the pause button” though, as they can’t participate in traditional sports rehab.
Thats 3 times they almost traded Curry
That’s Don Nelson and those guys back then. They say they now that they knew they had an mvp-caliber player, I don’t think they knew then. Nelly was always trading away and not getting ahead. Best example is Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens. He did that on opening night !!
Nelson could never find a center he liked, because he didn’t like actual centers. He aquired PFs and made them unhappy. Way to buck tradition Nelly.
Wait, that was Larry Riley in 2011 not Nelson, who was gone by then. Riley had drafted both Steph (when they had also Monta Ellis) and Klay.
From the link:
“According to one GM, “The Warriors were blind lucky that they were unsuccessful in trading Steph and Klay together for the stars they offered them together for,” he said. “There were many, many people they tried to get and failed.”
They were trying to get over the fact they had the similar Ellis and Curry as short 2Gs– “combo guards”. This could have been prevented by not drafting Curry, but Riley did, then tried to trade… Curry? Along with the rookie Thompson, a 2G that Riley also drafted. Weird. Then Riley was fired for Bob Meyers. GSW got it right though.
And I am helping to sell the book hmm.
Nelson was the coach but his buddy was Riley who did whatever Nelson wanted. The Bucks Nelson played GM and Coach and put together the roster he wanted. Couldn’t do that in Oakland but Riley definitely did what Nelson wanted with roster decisions.
I was just looking into the timeline and Nelson may have been gone by then.
Don’t think the suns have a huge want or need to move up and trading away Oubre to do so would be a big mistake.
I still like my idea Draymond Green to Indiana for Myles Turner and TJ McConnell, Maybe swap first round picks with GSW moving along way back and also getting a protected first a later year
Who says no, Draymond Green, Wiggins, top 5 pick to Philadelphia for Simmons, Tobias Harris and a later 1st rounder.
Warriors say no
LOL that’s a steal for GS. They would say yes and run.
What is Simmons and Tobias Harris ever won? And they gave Harris to Max he shouldn’t be a max player. Simmons pretty good but he’s missing a large part of today’s game, I jump shot. He’s fantastic but you got to have shooters. Green’s got three rings. Wiggins has untapped potential which I think you’ll reach with the Warriors. Plus a better first-round pick? No way.
Its not even debatable that Harris and Simmons are better than Draymon and Wiggins. Rings is a meaningless statement. The Warriors win with or without Draymond as long as KD was on the team
some of this is really silly
Okay lol Gary lot of players shouldn’t be but cry me a river get over it n off if his nuts. Hes a good ball players.
The trade makes no sense. Simmons would become an expensive, out of position, bench player. Harris would become an expensive bench player. He doesn’t fit within Kerr’s offense. A later draft choice doesn’t make sense in a weak draft.
Oh yeah Harris would be on the bench despite becoming the best forward on the team. Simmons can easily be an efficient SF. Do you not watch basketball outside the bay area?
Simmons would be very nice but GSW need defense. Only thompson and Green are good defensive players on the first team.
Sixers say no
Sixers are left with what JRich Wiggins Green Horford Embiid and a swap of first round picks…
No point guard, no shooters, no spacing, to many bigs, Embiid and Green couldn’t share the floor together, it would be horrible
True, but it would be great for GSW. Philly might think on it just because they have a star standoff and Dray would bring attitude.
Sixers wouldn’t think about it for a second. Simmons is far to valuable and if they traded him it would be for a top 20 player
Good idea all of you. Trade green. Judge him on this season. Ignore prior greatness. Freakin genius idea
I agree Claude. Draymond Green is the heart and soul of that team. Yes he’s got his flaws but you go ahead and take those in exchange for the defense, intensity, backbone, and all the rest of it. He’s one of the few guys in the world who satisfied with 10 rebounds 10 assists five blocks and four points.
Draymond is a role player that was never great and can’t have success unless he has 2 MVP players + an all star surronding him.
Yes you’re exactly right and that’s what he has. But I’ll tell you what, it’s vice versa also.
High-skilled All-Stars need grunts. And a grunt can’t win without high-skilled All-Stars.
How is Harris an improvement over Draymond? The Sixers are entrenched in mediocrity with Harris. Draymond has 3 rings.
Rings might be the most pathetic argument in sports. Draymond has 1 ring where he was a key contributor. Javale McGee has 2 rings so that makes him better than Harden?? Harris is on the bottom of reasons as to why the 76ers have been meh. Anyone who actually thinks Draymond is better than Harris needs to quit watching basketball
How is Harris an improvement over Draymond? He would have to become a different player. Why would you want to force an established PG to become a SF? Bizarre moves. Plus the draft pick ain’t worth it.
Because Harris can actually create his own shot? And gets the same amount of boards a game. Simmons literally came into the league as a SF. Once again your knowledge of players outside the bay area is pathetic.
Draymond can actually shoot. But, he focuses on other parts of the game that fit the Warriors offense.
McGee wouldn’t have 2 rings if it weren’t for Draymond. He has been a key contributor on all 3 championships.
Afk, does the sixth man of the year award go to MVPS? No, but those players are instrumental in winning titles. Iggy was the mvp of a warriors title series win AND won the 6th man of the year award. Green hasn’t won one because he starts. So iggy and green, they are by your definition role players. No ring is won without either of them. Game seven of finals last year v Toronto. Green, 8 turnovers cuz he was needed to handle the ball more with klay and Durant out. A role he HADNT been needed for but he stepped up, went beyond his “role”. So 8 turnovers. Does that define his ability? Does that support your criticism? It should, right?
Or does 19 rebounds, 13 assists, 11 points, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Or the triple double he averaged when they swept Portland without Durant.
Look, if you don’t like him, just say so. I might not either if I wasn’t a warriors fan. But I’d like to know who in the nba would not want him on their team.
And if you do t agree with the “rings” comment stop using “role player” as if it intends to minimize a players value.
I’d trade him and personally I like him. He leads the team defensively, he gives them personality and leadership so they don’t get bullied.
But he’s getting older, he isn’t as good as he use to be and GSW as a whole need to start to prepare for life after the big 3. Curry and Thompson are simply more valuable and irreplaceable.
Trading Green for Myles Turner and McConnell gives the team a young centre who fits the teams style of playing fast and shooting from deep. He also helps fill Greens defensively good because he’s a good rim protector. McConnell is a nice underrated back up point who again in GSW system would look great.
It’s about getting younger and staying ahead of the opposition to continue competing for the next 10 years.
And frankly Green this year without Steph and Klay and with some help from Russell never tried to do to much. He didn’t step up his offence or elevate the team, they come dead last
Green less than a year older than he was in 2019 playoffs. He played his butt off and was excellent in those playoffs. But, 10 months after that he’s too old?
He’s been a great player his whole career as a 4th option. This year he had the chance to be a second option and was trash.
Please define a 4th option? Please tell us how you are great Basketball Affiandio.
Do you have any clue what ur talking about Simmons? Let’s say a 5th starter in a pitching rotation suddenly has to be the number one starter, the ace, because of injuries, trades or what have you. If he does not pitch like the ace is he trash? If he pitches like the fifth starter he was, is he underperforming and does that make the team better? No, BECAUSE THEY’RE MISSING THEIR ACE.
That offense doesn’t have options. They spread the scoring and they each have roles. Greens role is defense, rebounding and passing. He’s not any option. C’mon man, “option”. Really?
He was injured too & probably unmotivated, though appatently still knows how to go for the face instead of the ball in traffic.
That’s a no from the Sixers.
Simmons is an easy replacement for Dray. A great passing big man who plays strong defense with no ability to shoot the three. Imagine Ben driving the lane and having the vision to kick the ball out to Steph and Klay around the perimeter.
Ben’s young and Dray is starting to age.
Harris is better than Wiggins, no further explanation needed.
And I thought the almost Lowry for Shumpert, Novak and a 1st was bad, Klay and Steph for CP3 would have been disastrous.
I think I would agree with you. Both teams probably say no. A lot of the NBA is about fit.
the good thing is GSW have so many options with their draft pick. Its a win win situation. Since there is no obvious #1 pick in the draft trading down would be a good deal.
Wiseman is the #1 unarguably, if anyone thinks otherwise, they know nothing at all about hoops for sure!
Wiseman isn’t that great but okayyyy
For some reason you just don’t like centers, but this doesn’t mean that they are not dominant or important.