NBA Rumors: Golden State Warriors Could Give Up Lottery Pick For Hawks' Duo

The Golden State Warriors might explore other options for their lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Rookie Draft. Despite them being nearly locked in to select Anthony Edwards - should they indeed seize the first overall selection - the Dubs could still be enticed to use the said pick as a trade asset instead, which they could use to acquire Atlanta Hawks’ rising duo Kevin Huerter and John Collins.

“Golden State may land the first overall pick, and it should be looking for players who can contribute immediately to a dynasty on pause,” Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz wrote.

In his virtual rundown, Swartz projected Collins and the Warriors as a match made from heaven. Shooting at an above-average clip from the three-point land, the 6’9 stretch forward is seen as an ideal fit for a system that became infamous for torching the rest of the league from outside shooting.

“The Warriors should seek out a floor-stretching big man instead,” Swartz continued. “Collins is averaging 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks and shooting 40.1 percent from three at age 22, and he could play power forward or center next to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and company.”

The same applies to the 21-year-old Huerter. Although playing in the shadows of Trae Young in Atlanta’s backcourt, the former Maryland spitfire guard has shown that he can also light it up from deep. He has made at least two triples per game at a 38.3% percent rate during his first two years in the league – numbers that are expected to escalate with the Splash Brothers taking him under their wings.

Swartz also mentioned how Edwards would just “make for an awkward fit in an already set backcourt” in the Bay Area. For him, forming a lethal one-two punch with Young in Atlanta would be the best scenario for the 18-year-old top prospect.

“For Atlanta, getting a top pick in the draft means putting together one of the best young backcourts in the NBA with Trae Young,” Swarts added.

“Edwards would be a perfect fit—a dynamic scorer with size (6'5", 225 pounds) who wouldn't have to travel far from the University of Georgia to his new Atlanta home. A lineup of Young, Edwards, Cam Reddish, De'Andre Hunter, and Clint Capela could be the best in the East in a few years.”

The Warriors are most likely to get the top pick as they sat at the bottom of the NBA standings, winning just 15 of 65 total games before the NBA suspension.