Report: Golden State Warriors Already Trying to Trade No. 2 Draft Pick for Veteran Player

Despite having the second overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly seeking to trade the pick in exchange for a veteran.

The Warriors finished with the worst record in the NBA for the 2019-20 season at 15-50, but came up short for the overall No. 1 pick in Thursday night’s lottery to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Key injuries to Warriors backcourt stars Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, along with the loss of Kevin Durant in free agency, resulted a disastrous year for the team. The decline came after five consecutive finals appearances and three league titles.

The strategy in the Warriors acquiring a veteran player with the second pick is that such a player will more quickly blend into the team’s lineup than a rookie would.

With Thompson and Curry presumably back to full health and possible additions in free agency, the Warriors seem likely to return to their previous role as championship contenders.

Of course, finding a willing trading partner may be a challenge if the draft class is as weak as experts believe. In addition, pinpointing the right player is also necessary to make such a move a success.

The draft isn’t scheduled to take place until October, which gives the Warriors plenty of time to consider this possibility.