After an interesting offseason, the Golden State Warriors find themselves at a crossroads with the continuous shift in the Western Conference.
They suffered a massive blow — losing 14-year vet Klay Thompson in free agency was a significant setback to the roster that has won four championships.
Acquiring players like Buddy Hield, Kyle "Slow Mo" Anderson, and De'Anthony Melton are all solid moves, but it doesn't quite move the needle for a franchise eager to win another championship in Curry's extended prime.
On the other hand, the Pelicans are soaring high after a productive offseason, one that saw that pull to bring in Dejounte Murray from the Hawks, bringing in a true playmaker after years of CJ McCollum running the offense.
However, there are still some concerns surrounding Brandon Ingram — his contract along with his fit with the former No. 1 overall pick ZIon Williamson raises questions. He's not what the Pelicans need but, smack dab in the middle of his prime at the age of 26 years old, his playstyle could allow him to flourish in another system.
Enter the Warriors; they could benefit from adding another star to take the offensive burden off Curry, and the Pelicans need to figure out a true solution on what to do with Ingram. Maybe their trade would be worth considering for both sides.
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By acquiring Brandon Ingram, the Warriors instantly get another big-time scorer, who they can run the offense through and even carry the mantle as Curry gracefully ages. He is someone who could play either wing position and some big small ball lineups as a power forward and prove to be a massive upgrade over Johnathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins.
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who is only in the third year of his career could benefit from being in the Warriors system and could even become a pivotal role player down the line as he progresses throughout his career. He's a solid, versatile defender with some upside as a passer and rebounder at the other end.
On the other hand, the Pelicans bolstered their frontcourt, adding Andrew Wiggins, who could bring much-needed defense and floor spacing for Zion Williamson to operate in the paint.
Moses Moody slowly but surely proved himself to be a serviceable backup guard even if he hasn't been able to carve out a permanent role in the Warriors rotation. He's a very good 3-point shooter and still has additional offensive upside.
Gary Payton III has bounced around the league over the years including two stops with the Warriors. His defense could be a difference-maker for the Pelicans who already have a strong mix of capable defenders in Murray and Jose Alvarado.
