3 Team Trade
Boston - McCollum, Looney
Golden State - Smart, Thompson, G. Williams
Portland - Wiggins, Langford, 7
Something like that seemingly would make sense for all 3 teams. Boston gets a legit 3rd star. Golden State gets quality depth with a huge payroll reduction of over 10 million (and over 40 million the following year). Portland gets a quality wing on a one year shorter contract, a young guy to look at, and a high draft pick to start restocking their future.
I like the trade, but feel like I'm missing something when it comes to Golden State. Why would they give up the #7 pick, when Wiggens may be the best player in the whole trade? Also, what $10M savings? Wiggins and CJ make almost the same in salary, and Looney has a player option. Is the #7 pick a straight salary dump?
GS doesn't get McCollum in the trade, they get Smart, Thompson, and G. Williams who make about 10.5 million less than Wiggins and Looney and that doesn't even account for #7 which is another 4.5 million or so. So GS drops 15 million in salary and given they are deep into the tax as a repeater, that is a massive savings. The following summer when Smart and Thompson come off the books, they save well over 40 million in actual salary if they don't bring them back.
As for Wiggins, I don't think he has all that much value to GS next year. He isn't particularly efficient as a scorer and isn't a good defender. I think for a team trying to compete for a title, Smart and Thompson provide more for the Warriors than they do for some other teams. So given that and the salary savings, I think that is something the Warriors might look at. The trade works without the Blazers so that part isn't necessary.
