Most of the NBA is waiting with bated breath to see how the Warriors have to deal with restarting their dynasty. The plan began 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 concept that has no generational talent, the no. 2-pick be a blessing for the Warriors. If they are not in love with a player they believe can both help them win now and take the franchise torch in a few years from Steph Curry, then basketball control president Bob Myers should be all-in to getting the pick for a player who can help the Warriors kick back to the top of the league next season.
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie watched the lottery out of the bubble, drawing his attention to what teams will do with each of the first eight selections. Dinwiddie suggested that the Warriors take the no. 2-choice to the Philadelphia 76ers would fall, in what should be a megadeal.
GSW trade the pick # 2 to Philly?
– Spencer Dinwiddie (@ SDinwiddie_25) 21 August 2020
The no. 2 overall choice in the concept apparently has substantial value, so any trade with the pick would require the Warriors to net a rising star who can join Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the pursuit of a title. With the 76ers leading the two-game-to-zero to the Boston Celtics in their first-round playoff series and taking quick water, many believe that center Joel Embiid could soon find his way out of Philadelphia if it is considered as he and star guard Ben Simmons are not a good fit together.
An Embiid trade to the Warriors has been linked to the Internet over the past year, as people saw the 76ers flirt like someone trying to swim without legs. The 76ers trusted the process and all they have to show for it are two young stars who can not look like gel and some disappointing playoff exits from the second round.
For the 76ers, the first move would likely be to share ways with coach Brett Brown and see if a new voice can get the Simmons-Embiid duo to reach their potential. But when things go awry, there’s a world in which the 76ers look to treat one of Simmons or Embiid and restart their roster around the remaining star.
While there is no sure-fire star in this concept, if the 76ers are in love on one of the top prospects, they could treat Embiid for a package that did pick and ahead Andrew Wiggins and perhaps the Timberwolves’ first round pick 2021
[RELATED: Warriors’ No. 2 pick can join Bosa, Bart as next Bay Area stars]Adding Embiid would obviously be an appealing prospect for the Warriors looking to complete their dynamic rebuild and return to the top of the NBA after a break spent spending resting and recalibrating.
Dinwiddie also drove the idea of the Timberwolves trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in a package for Devin Booker, so it looks 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 can be hard pressed to make a drastic change to save the process.
If trade for Embiid becomes a possibility, the Warriors will no doubt be among the first to call to try to give Curry, Thompson and Green the final piece of the puzzle for the new dynasty.
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