For a moment, it really did seem as like the Golden State Warriors would stick onto James Wiseman like their very lives depended on it, despite what it would have cost them in luxury tax payments.
. After all, giving up on the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft just three years into his career is a heartbreaking thought to even consider on multiple levels.
First of all, it hurts that the Warriors drafted the wrong prospect. And second, it’s a certainty that the Warriors wanted Wiseman to flourish in the Bay Area, so his struggles weren’t the easiest to watch for the Warriors brass.
Nevertheless, well-run businesses (or NBA franchises for that matter) don’t succumb to the sunk cost fallacy too often. Trading away the 21-year old center would have netted them millions in luxury tax savings. Thus, the Warriors’ decision to trade away James Wiseman isn’t the least bit surprising, a shrewd move that should only help both the Warriors and Wiseman moving forward.
Adding Gary Payton II in the fallout is also a terrific move on multiple levels. Payton played a vital role in the Warriors’ run to the NBA championship last year; he was a great point-of-attack defender, he was money on open threes, particularly from the corner, his cutting ability was extremely valuable to an offensive system predicated on movement off the ball, and his hustle and energy on the glass saved tons of possessions for the eventual champions.
But for a team that made a win-now move in that vein, the Warriors missed a huge opportunity to strengthen their team even further as Stephen Curry recovers from a knee injury. This could be the Warriors’ biggest mistake at the 2023 NBA trade deadline.
Warriors’ biggest mistake: Failing to go all-in for OG Anunoby
Some fans may think that the Dubs’ biggest mistake was choosing to pass on Saddiq Bey, a 23-year old forward with a bit of room to grow still. However, Bey, as capable as he is of explosive scoring nights, is an inefficient chucker from downtown. His reputation as a sharpshooter precedes his actual production on the court; he is only making 1.9 triples on 5.6 attempts per night for a subpar 34.5 percent – a mark below league average.
Thus, adding Gary Payton II remains the smarter move, especially when the Warriors return to full strength. But if the Warriors are adding pieces that help them win basketball games at present, then it’s difficult to see why they hesitated to trade for OG Anunoby.
The Toronto Raptors are looking for a godfather-level offer for the 25-year old forward, their reported asking price being three first-round picks in addition to other salary filler. It slowly became evident that the Raptors wouldn’t budge on their demands, but the Warriors appeared hell-bent on changing their minds mere hours before the NBA trade deadline.
However, the Warriors did not want to relinquish Jonathan Kuminga in a potential trade for OG Anunoby. Moreover, given the Warriors’ tricky cap situation, they would have had to give up Moses Moody, Donte DiVincenzo, and JaMychal Green (or Kevon Looney and JaMychal Green) just so they could match Anunoby’s salary. That would gut the Warriors’ already-questionable depth, and that doesn’t even take into account that they would have to give up their 2026 and 2028 first rounders.
But Stephen Curry is already 34 years old. As much as the Warriors try to set themselves up for a contending future without their superstar, the pieces they have in place at the moment aren’t nearly enough to act as a strong foundation for their future. Thus, getting pieces that would help them win now is imperative, lest they end up wasting the remaining elite years of Curry’s career.
Source: https://clutchpoints.com
