The Golden State Warriors Should Blow It Up And Trade Steph Curry

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1992-93 was a strange season for the Boston Celtics. It was the year after Larry Bird retired. It was Kevin McHale's last year. That year they did still go 48-34. In the first round of the playoffs, they were due to play the young Charlotte Hornets led by Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson.

In that series, the Celtics window of contention abruptly closed. Reggie Lewis collapsed in the first game from a heart ailment that would later take his life months later. But the bigger takeaway in the moment was watching Mourning and Johnson outplay McHale and Robert Parish. It was shocking. You saw a once great group simply get beat by a much more athletic team.

Nathaniel S. Butler. Getty Images.

I felt the same way watching the Warriors/Kings game last night. You saw an all-time great squad age out almost instantly. It was only one game but all of the faults of the once-elite Warriors were on full display. Klay Thompson looked like he was 50 years out there. He's a free agent and other than when they retire his number, he shouldn't be back in that arena. He looks done. I'm sure some team will give him a contract but that seems like an almost instant regret.

I understand they still have Steph and Draymond. I also understand the value of assets. So did Danny Ainge.

Nathaniel S. Butler. Getty Images.

Ainge was on those great Celtics teams of the 80's. He also saw them get older and older and leave a franchise with nothing to show for it when they all retired or left. He learned from that and that's why he pulled the trigger on dealing Pierce and Garnett to the Nets. He knew it would anger some Celtics fans but the worst thing an organization can do is stand still. Without that trade, the Celtics wouldn't have Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. Time remains undefeated. Guys will get older and as legendary Dodgers GM Branch Rickey once said "it is better to trade a player a year too early than a year too late."

I'm sure some people are reading this thinking I am nuts. I know Big Ev and Marty think the Warriors should stay the course and work towards trying to make next year's roster as competitive as possible. To that point, I ask…for what? They did win 46 games this year and still couldn't get into the playoffs. The West is tough. I don't see how they can be much better next year barring a free agent miracle (Paul George? Lebron? What are we even doing here?) The Warriors 1st round draft pick this year (unless it ends up being Top 4) goes to the Trail Blazers. I know this is a very weak draft but I still believe having around the 15th overall pick can only help.

What could you get for Curry? The bad news is the trajectory is not looking great. He averaged three points less a game than he did the year before. An assist a game less too. He's also 36 years old. But you know teams would be lining up around the block for him. He's under contract for two more seasons and teams like the Thunder literally have too many draft picks then they can use. The Pelicans and Knicks also have a bevy of future picks. There are plenty of assets out there. Remember, for a more washed KG and Pierce, the Celtics got 3 first round picks and a pick swap.

Could the Warriors also get picks and/or young players back for Draymond and Wiggins? Draymond can help almost every playoff-caliber team but is also stupidly signed for 3 more years at roughly $26 million/year. Wiggins is also signed for the same length at slightly even more money.

Trading these players is how you build back an organization. The next couple of years won't be pretty. I'm sure it'll sting watching Curry hit monster threes as he helps the Thunder go on a deep playoff run alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But, learn from my Celtics. Don't repeat that past.

After that nightmare 1993 playoff loss to the Hornets, the Celtics didn't even win 37 games in a season for NINE YEARS. Take it from an old man, the end comes quicker than you ever think it will.