The Golden State Warriors have found a lot of success with their famed small-ball lineups. In fact, you might argue that the four-time champion Dubs have deployed the most effective small-ball iterations in recent history.
It’s also a known fact, however, that this didn’t work out as planned last year for the Dubs. There were obviously a lot of other factors that came into play, but at the end of the day, Coach Steve Kerr might be curious to see what type of impact a traditional center would have on his team.
Warriors Get Traditional Big Man in Deandre Ayton
Lee Tran of Fadeaway World believes that Phonix Suns big man Deandre Ayton could be a solution to this dilemma for Golden State. Tran proposes a very interesting trade between the Warriors and the Phoenix Suns, which seems to work for all parties involved:
Golden State Warriors Receive: Deandre Ayton
Phoenix Suns Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody
Kevon Looney and Draymond Green were Golden State’s primary centers last season, and for the most part, they were effective. However, there’s no denying that bringing in a natural big man into their roster adds a whole new dimension for the Dubs.
“Offensively, Deandre Ayton is a solid lob threat and rim roller, and he shoots an astounding 78.2% in the restricted area. He will also be reunited with Chris Pall, who is a pick-and-roll maestro, and the two have some chemistry from their time together on the Phoenix Suns. Playing with Stephen Curry means that he’ll get some easy looks at the rim due to the superstar’s gravity as well. Overall, we can expect a quality offensive year from Deandre Ayton if he gets traded to the Golden State Warriors,” Tran wrote.
Ayton could be a real threat on the defensive end for the Warriors as well. His athleticism allows him to excel on defense, and a potential pairing with Draymond Green could help Ayton reach his true potential as a defender and a rim protector.
Suns Land Former All-Star in Exchange for Deandre Ayton
The Warriors will lose a major piece in this deal, though, as Andrew Wiggins makes his way to Phoenix. While the former All-Star is a proven scorer, it’s his defense that will allow him to find his niche alongside Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
The arrival of Kevon Looney and Moses Moody gives Phoenix some much-needed depth in their extremely top-heavy roster. Losing Ayton is tough, but you could argue that this move makes them a more well-rounded side as they look to contend for the title in 2023-24.
For More Wisconsin Sports:
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA, and follow us @WiSportsHeroics. Also, check out our Merchandise Here! Get 20% off with the code “WSH.” You can also reach out to Paolo Songco via email at pao.songco@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Wisconsin sports, click here! Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers.