The Golden State Warriors need to find a way to continue their dynasty by making some big changes before the end of the trade deadline. They’re 18-22 and need to find ways to make quick progress up the Western Conference, similar to the Lakers push from last year.
The team is dealing with circumstances greater than basketball right now, recovering from the sudden loss of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic. But they’ll return to the court soon and dedicate a push to the Serbian coach. New reinforcements on the roster to do the same may be imperative for the 12th-seed Warriors. Acquiring a star forward to aid their offensive concerns could be the move.
The New Orleans Pelicans have found good form this season but are dealing with a clunky on-court fit with Brandon Ingram and a surplus of forwards on the roster. If the Warriors come calling, they could find the assets to work out a deal for Ingram.
Trade Details
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, 2027 First-Round Pick (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Receive: Brandon Ingram
A potentially valuable first-round pick which will convey likely at the end of the Stephen Curry era along with a high-potential prospect like Jonathan Kuminga could grease the wheels enough to bring Ingram to the Bay Area.
The Pelicans Revitalize Their Core
The Pelicans have dealt with quite the logjam across frontcourt positions. While players like Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III may be more seamless fits as 3-and-D forwards next to Zion Williamson, the team could be forced into dealing one of them. Instead, they can move off Ingram to increase their opportunity while adding multi-positional options like Wiggins and Kuminga to the mix. Kuminga can play at both forward positions while Wiggins has played across three positions, including as a shooting guard.
Moses Moody would be a terrific catch for a Pelicans squad that needs scoring punch off the bench. He’s averaging 8.7 points this season but clearly has a lot more room to grow. Kuminga has already shown flashes of excellent defensive versatility while filling out his offensive game, averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. The Pelicans could have a dominant wing rotation with low-maintenance players who are willing to play their role while giving room for future growth.
The biggest question here is Andrew Wiggins. While the Pelicans could reroute him to a third team like the Dallas Mavericks, they could find utility in keeping him for a season to see if he can be salvaged. He’s averaging 11.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in a tough year but has shown that he can be among the best role-playing forwards in the league. Instead of moving him to a third team when his value is at his lowest, the Pelicans could wait until another year is removed from his contract and trade him for better value.
The Warriors Make A Push For Contention
The Warriors have suffered from a scoring problem across the roster in players not named Stephen Curry. The reason for their tumble down the standings has been Curry going through a cold spell and not enough supplementary scorers picking up the slack. They desperately need a bonafide secondary option on offense who can fit well in the Warriors’ motion offense.
Ingram is the ideal forward fit. He can create his own shot while also capable of finding offensive positions off the ball. He is averaging 21.5 points,4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists but doesn’t look like the ideal long-term fit in New Orleans. If the Warriors can part with a prospect they have deemed untouchable in Jonathan Kuminga along with a first-round pick and Moody, they can find a massive upgrade by acquiring Ingram.
The return of Draymond Green adds some defensive stability to the core, but Ingram will be expected to sharpen his play on the other end of the ball. If this deal goes through, it may become impossibly hard to stop the Warriors once again. The backcourt of Curry and Klay Thompson has always succeeded with a high-utility scoring wing.
A High-Risk Move To Remain Competitive
The Warriors likely don’t feel the need to rush a move because the team could still pull a few wins together and look like a solid team in the West. However, even a couple more losses could cause them to unravel and fall further behind the Western playoff race. Ingram adds a scoring punch along with sound ball-movement capabilities that the Warriors could use to make their offense unbeatable.
The Pelicans stand to lose a lot right now with a trade like this but have more to gain. Wings are always in demand in the NBA and the Pelicans are strategically placed to eventually pursue a genuine co-star for Zion. In addition, the players they got could genuinely flesh their rotation out while adding future upside for a young core.
This deal could unlock new horizons for both franchises, but the Warriors may end up overpaying to get a player of Ingram’s caliber on their roster. It’s a risk they have to take if they want to remain competitive as Steph Curry’s prime dwindles to its final few years.
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