One NBA writer advocated that the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers swap this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley advocated that the Warriors trade Andrew Wiggins to the Cavaliers for Jarrett Allen.
“Maybe a change of scenery would help get him back on track,” he wrote. “He doesn’t have much (if any) trade value on his own, but combine him with bright prospect Trayce Jackson-Davis and a couple of potential first-round picks, and Golden State could be onto something. Maybe that’s the package that convinces the Cleveland Cavaliers to give up Jarrett Allen, who has never been a good fit with Evan Mobley.
“Get Allen to Golden State, though, and he may be the anchor who puts the defense back on track, as well as the automatic lob finisher who amps up the power of this offense. To round out the transaction, the Warriors may add Georges Niang, whose three-point shooting and rapid processing ability should make him a good match.
This season, Wiggins averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Warriors, shooting 45.3% from the field, 35.8% from beyond the arc, and 75.1% from the free throw line. The NBA champion will earn $26.3 million next season.
Meanwhile, Allen averaged 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks for the Cavaliers, shooting 63.4% from the field and 74.2% from the free throw line. In the final year of his contract, the former All-Star will earn $20 million next season.
The Warriors lost to the Sacramento Kings in the 9-10 play-in tournament game, while the Cavaliers lead the Orlando Magic 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs.
“Perhaps that’s all wishful thinking for the Warriors, but there has to be a scenario in which Mitchell expresses a desire to stick around if the Cavs can fix their frontcourt spacing issues and improve on the wing,” he wrote. “The subtraction of Allen, a bounce-back from Wiggins and a few first-rounders to go searching for more might do that.”
The Warriors are anticipated to attempt to trade Wiggins this summer.
The Cavaliers selected Wiggins with the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, then traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love.