With competition in the West only getting tougher, this offseason is expected to be a busy time for many of the teams resting near the Pacific.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers are trying to re-assess their situation after a disappointing (almost embarrassing) finish to the 2020 season. With a roster that failed to build chemistry on the court and signs that there are problems between teammates in the locker room, it seems a trade is not out of the question for this team, even if it means breaking up their star duo.
For the Warriors, the return of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson means a return back to contention for the ball club. While their plans this offseason remain unclear, trading for another, big name star is a possibility, especially considering the “win now” mentality the organization has recently demonstrated.
With trade season quickly approaching, it would be surprising to see these teams remain stagnant until the start of the 2021 season. In fact, there is a way both sides could help each other with a trade involving just two players (Paul George, Andrew Wiggins) and the no. 2 overall pick.
Clippers Add Scoring And Depth, Let Kawhi Be Alpha
It’s no secret that Paul George’s inconsistency has been a major issue for the Clippers. And while parting with him would not be an easy decision, it could bear much fruit if they were able to get a player like Andrew Wiggins in return.
Wiggins, 25, is one of the best young scorers in the league. Last season, he averaged 21.8 points on 33% shooting from downtown. Alongside Kawhi Leonard and other veterans, he could grow and develop his game on both ends of the floor. His swap with PG also eliminates the awkward leadership situation, essentially allowing Kawhi to take the reigns.
In this particular deal, the Warriors would also send LA the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, which is likely to be Anthony Edwards — a 6-5 point guard out of Georgia who averaged 19 points per game last season.
Edwards is a gifted offensive player with a wide range of skills. He would be the answer to LA’s point guard search and a viable option for a future that may or may not include Kawhi.
Warriors Add Fourth Star, Improve Their Defense
The departure of Kevin Durant left the Warriors vulnerable on the wing, which they attempted to fill with Andrew Wiggins. While it’s hard to call the Wiggins experiment a “failure” after just 12 total games, PG13 seems like a much better fit for a team ripe with offensive weapons.
What George brings to the table is elite defense, something that would couple greatly alongside Draymond Green. Plus, as a career 20-point-per-game scorer, George is more than capable of putting up big numbers offensively. For the 2019-20 season, he shot 41% from beyond the arc.
With Curry, Klay, George, and Draymond, the Dubs would be right back in the “superteam” category and the clear front-runner in the West. With their “big three” (Curry, Klay, Draymond) already being on the upper side of 30, there is really no reason not to make moves best-suited to win now.
