The Warriors passed on drafting LaMelo Ball in November. It was a decision that could bring about a decade-plus of regret.
Lucky for them, there’s another capable Ball who they can land.
Yes, LaMelo’s older brother, Lonzo Ball, is the exact kind of player the Warriors need to acquire before the trade deadline.
Not only would he be an asset for this season (contrary to popular belief, this season and its playoff push is still happening, even with Steph Curry sidelined) but he would also fill a much-needed role for the Warriors in the years to come, when Golden State believes it will be contending for titles.
With the return of Klay Thompson next year, Kelly Oubre is likely destined for a spot on the Warriors’ bench, should he re-sign with Golden State this offseason. Oubre would be a fantastic sixth man and he and the Warriors have grown fond of each other in their short time together, but in free agency this summer, he can choose to go someplace with a better path to a starting role.
So instead of losing Oubre for nothing this summer, the Warriors are seriously considering trading him before Thursday’s noon trade deadline.
Ball would be a perfect target.
Not only could Ball anchor the Warriors’ second unit as a high-IQ point guard who can knock down a 3-pointer off the dribble, but he’s also a long and versatile defender capable of closing games and taking some stress of Thompson, who during the dynastic years guarded the opposing team’s primarily ball handler. Coming off two catastrophic leg injuries, that might not be in the cards for him in his career second act.
As good as Oubre has been for Golden State, Ball would represent an upgrade, if for no other reason than he would be a better fit with the team’s personnel.
And while the former UCLA star might prefer to start too, he is a restricted free agent this summer, which means that he won’t have full agency, unlike Oubre.
But this is where we hit a roadblock: It’s difficult to see a way for the Warriors to land him.
A big reason why New Orleans is likely moving off Ball is cost. The Pellies are a team that’s right up on the luxury tax line and they have no intention of crossing that threshold. So while New Orleans can match any offer he receives this offseason, it likely won’t, as doing so would likely put the Pelicans over the tax line.
So they’re trying to get anything they can for him right now.
But what can the Warriors offer that would entice them?
Ball is a good player, but he’s not worth the Minnesota draft pick. That’d be selling low for Golden State. Perhaps a future first-round Warriors pick would interest the Pelicans, but there are so many restrictions and caveats attached to those it’s hard to really know what Golden State can sell. By the time you get to a free-and-clear Warriors pick, it’s too distant to be a worthwhile asset.
And that’s about all the Warriors can offer right now. Andrew Wiggins is too expensive and far too mercurial, Jordan Poole’s breakout is too nascent to make him a valuable trade asset, Kevon Looney and Eric Paschall don’t have much, if any, value, and Damion Lee and Kent Bazemore are part of the Curry Clique, so they’re made men.
Perhaps I’m not creative enough — maybe the front office that has never made a three-team trade is prepared to get funky to make something happen before Thursday afternoon. But it sure looks like the Warriors will come up short of upgrading from Oubre’s uncertainty to Ball’s relative contract security.
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March 25, 2021 at 02:32AM
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Kurtenbach: Lonzo Ball is the player the Warriors need, but there’s a problem (or two) - The Mercury News
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