The Warriors are in a hurry to rebuild, apparently.
After trading Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh to get what they considered to be their franchise defensive center, a must for Mark Jackson’s plans since he was hired, the Warriors shut down their entire team and tanked so hard in order to keep their draft pick. They owe Utah a pick, and if it’s eight or higher in this draft, their 2012 pick goes to the Jazz. They landed at the seven spot in the lottery order, meaning if any of the seven teams behind them leapfrog into the top 3 with the lottery, the Warriors would be without their pick. They don’t like that plan.
So ESPN reports the Warriors are looking to trade future assets in order to make sure that doesn’t happen.But the Warriors, sources say, are prepared to sacrifice a trade asset or two before Wednesday’s lottery to make a deal with Utah that would wipe out the stipulations in place for the 28 percent possibility that the pick falls outside of the top seven.
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One source with knowledge of the discussions described the chances of a trade by Wednesday as “likely.” Yet it remains to be seen whether the teams can agree to a deal without involving current players, as Golden State apparently prefers.
Among the Warriors’ options to retain their 2012 pick outright is offering Utah a combination of future draft considerations, cash and/or a relaxation of the current restrictions on Utah’s rights to the pick in question in either 2013 or 2014. At present, Golden State’s 2013 pick is top-seven protected and its 2014 pick is top-six protected.
via Sources -- Golden State Warriors eye trade with Utah Jazz to secure lottery pick - ESPN.
So because they sent away a short-term future asset, they’re willing to possibly part with a future asset to get that other future asset back. Got it.
Well, they’re in a hurry. You can appreciate that.
Honestly, it might be better to liquidate the pick this year and get it out the way. The Warriors will have a year to evaluate whether Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut are enough to win with, then add a pick. If the pick lands in the top 3, it’s worth it. With the overall estimated value of this draft plumetting in the eyes of scouts, it might be better for the Warriors to abandon it. Then again, because of that drop in value, the Warriors might be able to get it back for better value than expected.
It’s not a major development, but it does show how aggressive the Warriors will be in trying to get back on track as quickly as possible.