Andrew Wiggins Joins the Houston Rockets in Bold Trade Proposal

Since parting ways with Harden, the Rockets have acquired three top-5 picks in Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and most recently, Amen Thompson. Their roster is now packed with promising young talent ready for development. However, there's a noticeable gap at the small forward position. While Dillon Brooks is a tenacious player, his on-court behaviour often lands him in trouble, and the Rockets could benefit from seeking an upgrade.

The Warriors have undeniably been the most dominant team of the last decade, clinching four NBA Championships. Despite their remarkable achievements, their roster is rapidly aging. Stephen Curry is 35 years old, Klay Thompson is 33, as is Draymond Green. Even their most significant acquisition, Chris Paul, is now 38. To sustain their success and continue their dynasty, the Warriors may need to explore trading some of their core players.

In light of this, the proposed trade offer could inject much-needed youth into the Warriors' roster and bring the Rockets closer to playoff contention:

The Trade Proposal

Golden State Warriors Receive: G/F Kevin Porter Jr., F Jae'Sean Tate, 2024 First-Round Pick (BKN via HOU)

Houston Rockets Receive: G/F Andrew Wiggins

Houston Inches Closer to Playoffs

While some Rockets fans might question the need to acquire another wing, a position where they already have depth with players like Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore, the answer is rather straightforward. The concern lies in the possibility of Dillon Brooks being the starting small forward. He has garnered a reputation as a "physical player," and his propensity for being aggressive was evident when he was swiftly ejected from his first preseason game, as shown below:


While he is a highly effective defender, there's room for improvement in his offensive game. He displayed some inefficiency last year, with a three-point shooting percentage of 32.6% and an overall field goal percentage of 39.6%, both of which fall below the league average.

Andrew Wiggins is a major improvement to Dillon Brooks, with impressive shooting percentages of 47.3% from the field and 39.65% from three. With a roster featuring Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets have the potential to secure a spot in the play-in tournament and even make a strong push further into the postseason.

Kevin Porter Jr. has also presented challenges for the Houston Rockets. He faced assault charges against his girlfriend, leading to his suspension from all activities with the team. Clearly, the Rockets need to part ways with him while they still have the opportunity.

Warriors Reload Their Roster:

The Warriors' primary motivation in this move is financial. Their interest in Porter Jr. isn't based on his basketball skills. Following domestic assault charges this summer, his NBA future remains uncertain, and if he does return, it won't be with the Warriors. The Warriors' intention in acquiring Porter Jr. is to subsequently release him, which will provide them with significant salary cap relief.

Jae'Sean Tate is a highly skilled forward with the versatility to defend multiple positions and facilitate plays for his teammates. Although there's room for improvement in terms of his efficiency, it's important to remember that he's a young player with plenty of time to develop and enhance his skills.

This move would offer the Warriors an opportunity to grant Jonathan Kuminga a well-deserved starting role. Golden State drafted him with the 7th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and he has exhibited notable offensive progress. In their first preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kuminga led the team in scoring with 24 points and an impressive 50% three-point shooting. He's shown promising signs, indicating that the Warriors could confidently replace Wiggins and unveil Kuminga's potential.

You can view all the highlights of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors preseason game in the video below:


Finally, the icing on the cake of this deal is the Warriors acquiring a first-round pick from the Rockets, which originally belonged to the Brooklyn Nets. The placement of this pick could range from being in the draft lottery to ending up at the tail end of the first round. Its final position will depend on Ben Simmons' return to form and the trajectory of Mikal Bridges. Regardless, this pick can be utilized to either select another promising young talent or serve as a valuable asset in a trade for a superstar player.

Credits:
NBA Analysis Network