Dubs in-depth: Potential draft night trades for the Warriors

The mock drafts keep rolling in.

The 2020 NBA Draft is set for Nov. 18, so expect to see a whole bunch of hypothetical trades the Golden State Warriors can make. Armed with the second selection, general manager Bob Myers can go multiple ways with the pick.

In a couple of recent mock drafts, two writers proposed different draft night trades for the Dubs to make.

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman’s hypothetical deal looks like this:

Warriors get: No. 8 pick (which they use on Florida State’s Devin Vassell), the Dallas Mavericks’ 2021 first-round selection and point guard Frank Ntilikina.

New York Knicks get: No. 2 pick (which they use on LaMelo Ball).

“A wing like Devin Vassell should have Golden State’s attention. The Warriors could use another three-and-D forward, and Vassell has become the most appealing one in the draft after shooting over 40 percent from three in both of his collegiate seasons and consistently making advanced defensive reads, rotations and plays on the ball.”

Vassell has the size to be a difference-maker right away. He’s 6’6, with a 6’10 wingspan, so he won’t be a liability switching on defense. Vassell averaged 12.7 points per game for the Seminoles.

Ntilikina could turn into a nice depth piece for head coach Steve Kerr. The 22-year-old averaged 20.8 minutes per game for the Knicks and put up 6.3 points per game while shooting 32.1% from beyond-the-arc. Ntilikina’s bread and butter is his defense. His 108.7 defensive rating was fourth-best on a terrible New York team, and the Knicks gave up 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor.

The Mavericks’ 2021 pick would give Golden State three first-round selections next year, which would allow the organization to explore another blockbuster trade.

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater suggested another trade for the Warriors. His proposed deal looks like this:

Warriors get: No. 10 pick (which they use on Obi Toppin), and Kelly Oubre Jr.

Phoenix Suns get: No. 2 pick (which they use on Tyrese Haliburton).

Oubre averaged 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and shooting 35.2% from deep this season. The 24-year-old took 5.5 3-pointers per game during the year, with most coming in catch-and-shoot scenarios. He’s 6’7, and a good wing defender, something Golden State desperately needs. The issue is that Oubre is a free agent after next season, so the Dubs would have to pay up to keep him in the Bay Area.

I prefer Haliburton over Toppin, but the Warriors would be adding two nice pieces to their rotation with this deal. Toppin can be an impact player on the offensive end, but his defense will be a liability.

Both trades see the Dubs walking away with at least pieces which can come in and help next season. Myers can focus his attention on signing a veteran big man in free agency, which would nicely round out the roster.