Most of the NBA is waiting with bated breath to see how the Warriors go about restarting their dynasty. The plan started to come into focus Thursday night when the Warriors landed the No 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, with the Minnesota Timberwolves landing the top pick.
In a draft that has no generational talent up top, nabbing the No. 2 pick might be a blessing for the Warriors. If they aren't in love with a player who they believe can both help them win now and take the franchise torch from Steph Curry in a few years, then president of basketball operations Bob Myers should be all-in on dealing the pick for a player who can help the Warriors bounce back to the top of the league next season.
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie was watching the lottery from the bubble, and offered his take on what teams will do with each of the first eight selections. Dinwiddie suggested the Warriors would flip the No. 2 pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, in what would have to be a megadeal.
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The No. 2 overall pick in the draft obviously carries substantial value, so any trade with the pick would have to net the Warriors an established star who can join Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in pursuit of a title. With the 76ers down two-game-to-zero to the Boston Celtics in their first-round playoff series and taking on water fast, many believe center Joel Embiid soon could find his way out of Philadelphia if it is deemed he and star guard Ben Simmons are not a good fit together.
An Embiid trade to the Warriors has been bandied about on the internet for the past year as people watched the 76ers flail around like someone trying to swim with no legs. The 76ers trusted the process and all they have to show for it is two young stars who can't seem to gel and a couple of disappointing second-round playoff exits.
For the 76ers, the first move likely would be to part ways with coach Brett Brown and see if a new voice can get the Simmons-Embiid duo to reach their potential. But if things go sideways, there's a world in which the 76ers look to deal one of Simmons or Embiid and reboot their roster around the remaining star.
Golden State Warriors
While there is no sure-fire star in this draft, if the 76ers are in love with one of the top prospects they could deal Embiid for a package that would include that pick and forward Andrew Wiggins and perhaps the Timberwolves' 2021 first-round pick.
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Adding Embiid would of course be an enticing prospect for the Warriors who are looking to complete their dynastic rebuild on the fly and return to the top of the NBA after a pause year spent resting and recalibrating.
Dinwiddie also floated the idea of the Timberwolves trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in a package for Devin Booker, so it seems like it was just a slow night in the bubble.
Warriors fans should keep their eye on the 76ers, though. As the ship continues to sink they might be hard-pressed to make a drastic change in order to salvage the process.
If trading for Embiid becomes a possibility, the Warriors undoubtedly will be among the first to call to try and give Curry, Thompson and Green the final piece of the puzzle for the new dynasty.