The Golden State Warriors will surely be in win-now mode next season with the return of Klay Thompson. While their roster around the Curry and Thompson would be solid enough, there could always be more improvements around them.
There is no doubt that acquiring star power generally leads to more championships. The Golden State Warriors could potentially make a win-now move for a star if they decide to add more star talent to their roster. A perfect target would be Brandon Ingram of the New Orleans Pelicans. Here is a potential trade package:
Golden State Warriors Receive: Brandon Ingram
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, No. 7 2021 first-round pick, No. 14 2021 first-round pick
The New Orleans Pelicans Get Solid Players Around Zion Williamson
While Brandon Ingram is a star player, there have been question marks about the defense with him and Zion Williamson on the court. Neither are elite on the defensive end. The Pelicans have missed the playoffs this season, which could lead them to make a trade. Perhaps acquiring some different talent around Zion Williamson could help him continue to flourish, and allow the Pelicans to be in the playoffs once again.
Andrew Wiggins is a solid two-way player who is an elite perimeter defender that can take on the toughest assignment every night. He is perfect as a complementary offensive player as well as he can shoot the 3PT shot well and create for himself at the rim. With Zion Williamson taking on the majority of the defensive attention from the opposition, it would allow Andrew Wiggins to thrive and perhaps put less pressure on him in a complementary role.
Jordan Poole is a capable shot-creating guard, who would be the other player part of this deal. Poole could potentially take on a slightly bigger offensive role, and he showed some great flashes when he got increased usage for the Golden State Warriors. The two picks would be lottery picks in a good draft class, and they would be the draft compensation aspect of this deal. Overall, this is a solid package for an All-Star caliber player like Brandon Ingram.
The Golden State Warriors Make A Move For A Young Star
Brandon Ingram is a former All-Star who averaged 23.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 4.9 APG this season while shooting a solid 38.1% from beyond the arc. Ingram has great shot creation ability in the midrange as well, often being able to his tough jumpers over defenders due to his length. Overall, Brandon Ingram would bring a new dynamic to the Golden State Warriors’ offense.
Most players do better when paired with Stephen Curry, and the same would be true for Brandon Ingram. With Stephen Curry often drawing two or three defenders on the court, there would be plenty of room for Brandon Ingram to play his game, as he would likely face single coverage a lot of the time. An additional offensive presence in Ingram combined with Klay Thompson’s return should allow the Golden State Warriors to counteract some of their scoring issues from this season.
Overall, an offensive trio of Brandon Ingram, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson would strike fear into the hearts of the opposing defenses. The spacing on the team would be insane, and Ingram would take some of the scoring pressure off of Stephen Curry as well. A move for Ingram isn’t impossible, and perhaps the Golden State Warriors will try to trade for him in the future.
