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The Golden State Warriors have had their fair share of hits-and-misses when it comes to trades. For every Baron Davis for Dale Davis and Speedy Claxton deal, you have a Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens swap.
The Athletic’s Steve Berman went back and looked at the 20 best trades involving Bay Area teams. The Dubs appeared on the list three times. At No. 18 he had the Warriors acquiring Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson in exchange for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown.
Jackson made the list again at No. 12, when Golden State got him, Al Harrington, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Josh Powell from the Indiana Pacers for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith McLeod.
Berman put the Davis deal at No. 9, and put the Andre Igoudala deal third on his list:
“Warriors get: Iguodala and Kevin Murphy
Nuggets get: Randy Foye and 2018 second-round pick
Jazz get: Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, a 2014 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick, a 2017 second-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick
Iguodala is probably going to the Hall of Fame, but he was only a full-time starter for one season with the Warriors. So how does this trade get ranked so highly? Because this is the deal that really solidified the Warriors as a destination (no player of this caliber ever seemed to want to come to this franchise at the time) and showed that Bob Myers had the ability to work some transactional magic. Myers has since described the process of making this sign-and-trade deal as one of the hardest things he’s ever pulled off, but it was clearly worth the stress. Iguodala filled in every spot the Warriors needed to win the biggest games against the toughest opponents and there’s no way the Warriors could’ve reached five straight NBA Finals without him.”
There is no doubt Iguodala had the biggest impact on the franchise. Iggy was an imperative part of the three championship teams, whose defensive capabilities made him an invaluable piece.
Baron Davis was simply fun to watch. He helped the team to two winning seasons, which was a rarity at the time for the Dubs. His performance against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first-round of the 2007 NBA playoffs make him a beloved Warrior.
The Bogut deal doesn’t get enough credit. It was never going to work with two ball-dominant players in Curry and Ellis, so getting a rim protector for those Golden State teams was a big win. Bogut did all of the little things that help teams win championships. Although he was taken out of the starting lineup for the final three games of the 2015 NBA Finals, his contributions to that squad can’t be understated. His PIE rating in the 2015 postseason was higher than Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Shaun Livingtson.
When looking at the worst moves, there are a few that definitely stand out. The Chris Webber experiment failed miserably. He averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds in his rookie season, but after butting heads with Don Nelson over the the team’s small ball style, Webber asked out. Nelson accommodated the disgruntled forwards, trading him to Washington for Tom Gugliotta, and three first-round picks, which amount to Todd Fuller, Antawn Jamison, and a deal to get guard Larry Hughes.
Another move that comes to mind is the Richmond-Owens swap mentioned above. Richmond was a perennial All-Star, who could have continued to shine with Golden State. While Owens had a solid NBA career, he never produced at the same level of Richmond.
What do you think are the best and worst trades in Warriors’ history? Is there a move the team made that you feel is under appreciated?
On to some links:
Where would Draymond Green go in 2012 NBA redraft? NBC Bay Area’s James Ham has Dray going No. 5.
With the NBA Draft Lottery set for Aug. 25, expect to see a flurry of mock drafts over the coming weeks. Bleacher Report’s Mandela Namaste released his latest mock, and has the Dubs taking a guard with the top-pick.
Golden State’s President Rick Welts went to Croatia for a summer trip in 2018. NBC Bay Area’s Drew Shiller highlights a funny moment Welts experienced while out at a restaurant during his vacation.
LA Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley plays with intensity. The feisty one is reflecting on past battles with the Dubs to get ready for the NBA’s return-to-play plan in Orlando. (The Score)