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It was another losing Warriors season, so that means this is my highlight. Again.

I say that every year. No seriously, check out my posts from previous years:

2009:

• http://www.ispithotfire.com/2009/06/06/with-the-7th-pick-in-the-2009-nba-draft-the-warriors-select/
• http://www.ispithotfire.com/2009/06/26/nba-draft-time/

2008:

• http://www.ispithotfire.com/2008/06/05/the-nba-lottery-is-a-sham/
• http://www.ispithotfire.com/2008/06/26/the-nba-draft-is-here-almost/

Normally, I’d review my predictions and assessments from previous years, but that would make this post too long. To sum-up, Anthony Randolph still may be Stromile Swift, I still think Ricky Rubio will be fantastic, I didn’t have any idea Stephen Curry would be…Stephen Curry-Nash, and Michael Beasley has been disappointing.

Here’s the Warriors situation:

• Need a new owner
• Got screwed in the draft. Again.
• The Warriors have great depth and skill at the 1,2,3 positions: Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, Reggie Williams, Kelenna Azuibuike, CJ Watson (free agent), Anthony Morrow.
• The Warriors are young.

Needs:

• Defense: Rebounding, Perimeter Lockdown, Interior Defense. They can already shoot 3’s, slash, and penetrate as well as any other team.
• Monta Ellis is a tremendous talent, but he needs to learn to play off the ball. If he can, I think that’s a 5-10 win gain for the Warriors. Seriously. His stats are amazing, he just needs to be able to get them while playing naturally with Curry’s. If he can do that, watch out!
• Anthony Randolph to learn the game, gain some basketball IQ
• Brandan Wright to play like he should. I’m a believer!
• Andris to gain his mojo (aggressiveness back)

The Draft:

• John Wall: won’t be a Warrior
• Evan Turner: maybe there’s a chance? Trade scenarios below, he would help in rebounding, perimeter lockdown. Evan Turner is what Anthony Randolph could end up being, but in SF/SG size. Turner is all that, right now.
• DeMarcus Cousins: this guy is the ultimate risk, the ultimate question is regardless of attitude, immaturity, whatever. Does he have a motor? Does he work on every play? If so, I say take the risk, if not, then pass. No one wants to pass up on the next Amare, but GMs know that Amares are rare, so the odds are good they will survive. I always think of Eddy Curry when I think of Cousins.
• Derrick Favors: worth the risk, big time finishing big man who can rebound and defend.
• Wesley Johnson: can defend, run, dunk, shoot 3’s. Compared to Shawn Marion. Do it.
• Cole Aldrich: if he were black, he’d be worth more in my mind. Then again, if he were black maybe he’d be Shelden Williams. If he could be a 30 minute, 10 point 12 rebound, 2 blocks, he’d be the old Andris. So at his best he could be a more physical Andris, which we could use if that’s what he is.

Unfortunately, with the #6 pick, the Warriors don’t seem to be able to get any of those guys except for Aldrich, and I doubt Aldrich is a less foul-prone, better defending Andris who can also run the floor just as well. Everyone else in the draft can’t play immediately for the Warriors, and they don’t need more young wait-and-see talent. The #6 for me is a freebie, give it away to anyone to make a deal.

We’ll have to look for trades. Stephen Curry is untouchable. I like Monta, but he has some serious weaknesses, but he also has a lot of heart. I think the Warriors need to combine the pick with somebody to go for someone. The rest of the players that they can get at #6 are too young, skilled with some question marks. That’s like every Warrior already. Warriors, when not injured, actually have too many players to develop.

Make something happen! I say this every year about the Warriors, when you suck every year, you might as well risk a ton, because you can always still suck. And yet the Warriors never do anything. And suck. That is a lot of sucking. Suck. Suck. Suck.

So, the potential trades: (I’m going to pretend I’m like Vinh in Fantasy Basketball)

1. 76ers: Andris Biedrins + Corey Maggette + #6 Pick to the 76ers for Elton Brand and #2 Evan Turner. http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5523004
2. 76ers: Elton Brand + #2 (Evan Turner) for Kelenna Azuibuike + Andris Biedrins + Anthony Randolph + #6 http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5529562
3. 76ers: Andre Iguodala for Monta Ellis + #6 http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5529551
4. Timberwolves: Al Jefferson for Monta Ellis + #6: http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5529535
5. Grizzlies: OJ Mayo + #4 (Wesley Johnson / Demarcus Cousins / Derrick Favors) for Monta Ellis + #6
6. Heat: Michael Beasley for Anthony Randolph

With the 76’ers, I think they’re open to something if you take Elton Brand. I have no idea what’s wrong with Brand, whether he’s just done, or it’s the system he’s in. I like to think he has a physical 15 pts/9 boards/1.5 blocks in him every 30 minutes since he’s only 31, but look what happened to Jermaine O’Neal. Nonetheless, of the three trades I’m thinking of, #2 probably is the best.

In Trade #2, the 76ers get Andris (he’s still only 24, and his contract is not ridiculous as long as last year was a fluke), Kelenna (good athletic swingman off the bench with a great contract, 1 year left at low dollars), and Anthony Randolph (the talent). They trash Brand and give up Turner, but still get a #6- yes it’s a lousy #6. All 3 Warriors can play up tempo in the 76ers system, only Andris has the long term deal and it’s around half the dollars per year of Brand’s. Warriors get a hopefully, not trashed Elton Brand, good low post and physical presence, but they get Evan Turner, whom they need a ton. He’s a perfect SF for them, can defend, rebound, pass. It’d be AMAZING!

In Trade #1, the 76ers get Maggette and Andris. Now that I think about it, this trade just wouldn’t go through. Next.

Trade #3: Iguodala for Monta Ellis + #6. Iguodala is great for the Warriors, a guy who can finish, defend, and pass. Curry to Iggy! The 76’ers get fairly good value with the extra #6 (so they’d have both the #2 + #6 in this year’s draft for rebuilding), and the contracts are the same. I like this trade a lot as well.

Trade #4: Same trade as trade 3 but for Al Jefferson. Can Al play up tempo? I don’t give a crap. He’s a super skilled post big man who can rebound. Not necessarily a great defender, but improving. Rumors are Timberwolves are open to moving him, and this is the only deal that makes sense in talent. The Wolves need perimeter offense (uh, see Flynn and Corey Brewer, and then look at their bench) and excitement, Ellis gives that. #6 pick is pretty high, all considering. Replace #6 with Randolph, I still do the deal.

Trade #5: They were rumors that the Grizzlies proposed Mayo and Thabeet for Monta before the trade deadline, and the Warriors said no. Why? Not sure. But Mayo has the size and talent to be just as good as Monta on offense (maybe he’s better already) and much better on defense. Instead of Thabeet, replace him with the #4 and the Warriors give the #6. If the Grizzlies really like Monta that much, this deal should seem fine. Warriors use the #4 on Wesley Johnson, and suddenly, they’re much better defensively, and not as undersized. And damn exciting. Incidentally, I am not sure how they could propose this deal, because I couldn’t get it to work work financially. So maybe it was a lie.

Trade #6: Not so many people are high on Beasley anymore, a lot of players from that draft have vaulted over him. Quite possibly including Anthony Randolph. I think it’s just a matter of time for Beasley- his skills are there, maybe he just lacks confidence, he doesn’t know how to play with Wade, not sure. But there’s a reason why he was considered along with Rose to be the top talents in the draft. He’s a guy, if he ends up averaging 20/10, you think, that’s all? Would I trade AR + #6 for Beasley? Maybe, but that seems a bit much. It depends on if Nelson thinks he can manage him and unlock his potential. Also, get him to play better D. I would rather do Beasley + Mario Chalmers for AR + #6. Warriors could use a solid, distributing backup PG who can also defend and shoot the 3. (I couldn’t make this trade work financially, but I think it wouldn’t be too difficult)

More about the Warriors and the Draft from me to come, I can almost guarantee it.

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