NBA Rumors: GSW Could Acquire Al Horford For Trade Package Centered On Andrew Wiggins, Per ‘CBS Sports’
The Golden State Warriors managed to address their major wing problem trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Andrew Wiggins before the February 6 trade deadline. However, though he may be a better fit in Golden State than Russell, rumors still continue to circulate around Wiggins and his future with the team. With the Warriors seriously aiming to immediately return to the Finals and win more championships, there is speculation that they could move Wiggins for an established veteran who could complement their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
So far, reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is emerging as the most likely target for the Warriors in the 2020 NBA offseason, but there’s no clear indication that the Milwaukee Bucks will consider making him available on the market this summer. According to Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, another potential trade target for Golden State in a deal involving Wiggins is Al Horford of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Horford may just have signed a four-year contract with the Sixers in last year’s free agency period but with his inability to co-exist with Joel Embiid in their frontcourt and struggles to fit in coach Brett Brown’s system, multiple signs are pointing out that Philadephia would explore trading him this summer. Though he’s currently viewed as the odd man out in the City of Brotherly Love, Quinn believes that Horford would be an incredible addition to the Warriors.
“Once upon a time, Horford was considered the Eastern Conference’s answer to Draymond Green. Even in his compromised state, the idea of pairing the two of them defensively should give the Western Conference nightmares. Few teams have the front-court personnel to switch everything, but a Horford-Green pairing would allow the Warriors to do so with ease. Horford’s passing would be more than welcome in Steve Kerr’s motion offense. Aside from the 2015-16 Green blip, Golden State has never had a center with any sort of shooting ability. Imagine giving the Splash Brothers even more space to work with.”
In the proposed trade from CBS Sports, the Warriors would be sending a package including Wiggins, Jordan Poole, and Damion Lee to the Sixers in exchange for Horford and a future second-round pick. The potential deal would likely be beneficial for both teams involved. Aside from getting rid of Horford, the Warriors would acquire a player in Wiggins that fits the timeline of Embiid and Ben Simmons — their franchise cornerstones.
Wiggins’ inconsistencies from beyond the arc have been a major issue since he entered the NBA in 2014 but he’s already showed some improvement on that end since he was traded to the Warriors. If he continues his development and turns into an efficient three-point shooter and defender, Wiggins has a strong chance of creating good things with Embiid and Simmons in Philadelphia next season.
