Is it possible for an NBA team to have too many assets? We wouldn’t say that. Still, they can have a surplus of assets. At some point, a team may need to consolidate their draft capital.
Have the Oklahoma City Thunder reached that point? It certainly feels like it. This team has a promising young core. The Thunder are already winning games.
Meanwhile, they’ve also got the most draft capital that a team has accumulated in the history of the league. It’s time to start spending that draft capital. The Thunder should be targeting players who fill a need for them. In particular, they could use a 3-and-D wing.
How about Andrew Wiggins of the Golden State Warriors?
The Trade Proposal
Golden State Warriors Receive: F Davis Bertans, G/F Josh Giddey, 2025 First-Round Pick (Top 6 Protected – PHI via OKC)
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: G/F Andrew Wiggins
When we talk about assets, we’re usually talking about draft capital. With that in mind, picks can be volatile assets. An NBA team doesn’t necessarily know what they’re going to get in the draft.
Just look at the Warriors. When they selected Draymond Green in the second round, they may have thought they were getting a quality player.
They couldn’t have possibly anticipated that they were getting Draymond Green. His emergence as one of the best defensive players in the history of the league has been a shock to everyone.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
By contrast, we’ve seen lottery picks fail to succeed in the league. It would be too early to say that Josh Giddey is going to be an example. Still, it’s worth noting that Giddey has been struggling recently.
Should the Thunder move him?
Why The Oklahoma City Thunder Do The Deal
Do Giddey’s struggles correlate with his recent off-court issues? We’re not sure. It’s a sensitive subject – we’ll only say that the Thunder have multiple reasons to move him.
It’s worth noting that Giddey is a playmaker with limited off-ball value, and the Thunder are best when the rock is with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams.
By contrast, Wiggins has plenty of off-ball value. He’s also emerged as a quality defender in recent years. This is exactly the type of player that the Thunder could use to take the next step forward.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Should they hesitate to include a pick for Wiggins? We don’t think so. The Thunder need to start selling picks eventually. They could consolidate them for a larger target, but flipping one first for a starting-caliber 3-and-D feels like a sensible move.
Should the Warriors part with Wiggins?
Why The Golden State Warriors Do The Deal
The Warriors find themselves in a strange position. This team is middling. They may be on the backend of a dynasty. With that in mind, some have argued that they should push in their chips and trade for a win-now star.
Perhaps. The Warriors could go that route. With that said, they’ll be old and expensive if they do. Arguably, the Warriors should start turning to the future. That’s what we’ve got them doing here.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
Giddey – leaving the off-court stuff aside – should be a good fit in Kerr’s motion system. He can start developing chemistry with draft mate Jonathan Kuminga to usher in the next era of Warriors basketball. Whether a team can have too many assets or not, it can’t have too much talent.
