Warriors Could Add Nets Rising Star In Proposed Mock Trade

The Golden State Warriors are sitting pretty atop the Western Conference after starting their season 11-3. They were dealt a blow this week with De'Anthony Melton being ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, as the Warriors turn to their deep rotational cast to provide backup and continue their winning ways ahead of a tough stretch of games.

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly willing to listen to offers on all players on their roster, leaving young guard Cam Thomas unprotected as well, with the right offer taking him to a new destination. The Warriors have been looking for a major self-creating scorer, trying to trade for Paul George and Lauri Markkanen in the summer, but can they take a riskier plunge for Cam Thomas and develop him as Stephen Curry's co-star? 

It could be a fruitful move but with a potentially risky cost.

Trade Details

Golden State Warriors Receive: Cam Thomas

Brooklyn Nets Receive: Brandin Podziemski, 2025 First-Round Pick (GSW), 2026 Second-Round Pick (ATL), 2028 Second-Round Pick (ATL)

The Warriors protected Podziemski heavily over the summer, viewing him as a rotational player who can fit alongside their stars and develop into one in the coming years. He's a major offensive liability, so trading on his upside along with one first-round pick and multiple second-round picks could create an enticing enough situation for the Nets to accept it and the Warriors to add a major piece.

The Warriors Add An Unproven Second Option

The Warriors might have a humming offense right now due to the motion offense Steve Kerr has put in place, but the team often finds itself needing offensive creation from individual players. While Stephen Curry is perfect for that role, there really isn't a reliable individual option offensively outside of him on the squad. Buddy Hield is the closest on-ball scorer but even he isn't suited for that role in the long-term.

Cam Thomas would fill that need perfectly, averaging 24.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this season. Even when he was teammates with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Thomas proved he could make serious offensive contributions to a winning team. His skill-set has since expanded and the 23-year-old is playing on an expiring contract, incentivizing him to maximize his production to secure his future as well.

The Warriors will be taking a risk with an addition like this, especially if Thomas struggles to adjust to the team defensively. But his scoring upside might finally give the Warriors a reliable option who can fit alongside Curry and potentially carry that role forward in the post-Curry era for the franchise. 

The Nets Add A Prospect And Draft Assets

Given Thomas' production this season, it would be fair to expect the Nets to protect him in trades as a future piece. But it's clear the Nets want to build the organization back from the ground up in addition to the players they draft in next year's Draft. Getting a solid return like this for Thomas might set the franchise up better for the future.

Podziemski is averaging 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists this season, though his value won't come from his counting stats. He's the opposite of Cam in the sense that his impact is felt with his defense in the open court and ability to be a solid link-up player on both ends of the court. He could be a great addition now and can be developed into having a bigger role on the franchise as they enter their full-fledged rebuild.

The Warriors will send the Nets a 2025 first-round pick for a Draft Class expected to be among the best in modern history. That pick along with Podziemski and future assets will be a healthy return for Thomas, who has yet to prove himself in the NBA as anything outside of a scorer.

A Risky Exchange For Big Results

This deal could work out perfectly for both franchises given they're trading on the potential of what these players can become. Podziemski isn't an offensive threat right now but is just in his sophomore season and has tons of room for development. Thomas is proven as an NBA-level scorer, ensuring he provides that to the Warriors, but Golden State will hope he can add dimensions to his game, primarily defensively.

If Podziemski doesn't develop, the Nets could still just retain a low-usage high-activity defender for the first few years of the rebuild on their roster, while Thomas will guarantee scoring outbursts for the Warriors even if he can't find a home in Golden State defensively. The pick they give up might sting but won't tie them up in the future in any way, especially if they stay one of the top records in the NBA.