With the NBA trade deadline approaching, almost every team in the association has been involved in some kind of rumor.
In Golden State, the Warriors are no different. As they continue to make a run for the postseason, it’s becoming increasingly evident that a move might be necessary if they want to stay afloat in the loaded Western Conference.
Among a series of suggestions and possible trade scenarios, one player-swap suggested by John Healy of Radio.com makes a lot of sense for the Dubs. The deal would have them sending Andrew Wiggins to the Mavericks for offensive star Kristaps Porzingis.
The Mavericks have already reportedly contacted the Warriors about Porzingis and for good reason. Porzingis would be an ideal fit in Golden State’s offense. The 7-foot-3 Latvian is shooting 35.2% from 3-point range this season, which helps fill a void left by the absence of Klay Thompson as the Warriors aim to return to the playoffs this year.
If the Warriors were to put a deal together for Porzingis, Andrew Wiggins’ contract is essentially the same if they are willing to part with the former No. 1 pick. Any deal for Porzingis will likely need to include draft picks as well.
For the Mavs, the acquisition of Wiggins makes a lot of sense. He’s young, has got plenty of potential, and is much more durable than KP, who misses games all the time for one reason or another. As a scoring wing who can shoot and drive, Wiggins should be an ideal fit next to Luka, and the Mavs could focus on finding some defensive-minded bigs to fill out their rotation and strengthen their defense.
For the Warriors, Kristaps might be a better fit in the roster than Andrew Wiggins. As a team light in the frontcourt, adding KP alongside James Wiseman would give some much-needed height to the team. And while his defensive capabilities remain a serious problem, his ability to stretch the floor would be a really great fit next to Steph Curry.
In the end, it’s hard to say what will happen on either front ahead of the NBA’s March trade deadline. Though, at this point, it’s far too early to rule anything out.
