(Okay....I'll take the bait...)
Thunder get: Draymond Green (with the presumption that he signs long term); Warriors get: Lu Dort, 3 1st rd draft picks
The Warriors obviously don't want to lose Draymond but they've already re-upped Wiggins and Poole, 2023 summer will be time to re-up Klay and possibly Wiseman, then 2024 summer will be time to re-up Moody and Kuminga. It's easy to say "Pay all of them!" (*), but there is a limit to how much money exists on planet Earth and somewhere along the way somebody is getting left behind. (**) Draymond is the heart of the team but they've won without him before and that would continue. On the court, Draymond is important but the scoring talent on that team is deep enough to adapt to a trio of Looney, Kuminga and Wiseman; off the court, the public face of the relationship between Draymond and the team is weird enough to be mutually destructive.
Lu Dort (already signed for 5yr/$80m) and a bunch of picks and the Warriors never miss a beat. Some defensive intensity, a guy going from the worst team in the league to the best, a young guy already signed long term, he's perfect for the Warriors. As for the picks I'd prefer Utah's 2024 pick, Philly's 2025 pick and OKC's 2029 pick (all of which are currently held by OKC). Utah (top 10 protected) should be getting better but still kinda crappy by the time of the 2024 draft. Betting on Philly (top 7 protected) is a bet that as Embiid ages Philly will turn to chaos rather than re-tooling. And as for OKC's 2029 pick (as yet unprotected), well, I just figure that's the one OKC literally cares the least about therefore they can be talked into giving it away (and, hey, decent chance OKC sucks by then, might be a nice pick).
Shouldn't the Warriors want more? No. Remember: they're not getting rid of a player, they're shedding a contract. They wouldn't trade Draymond for similar money, they're trying to get off money. So the fact that Dort only makes half what Draymond makes is ideal.
And why do the Thunder do this? The youth movement in OKC could use some heart and soul, it needs to be brash and physical and with veteran smarts (with just a dash of fiery stupid). This team is young, they need a lightning rod to train them up. Remember: Draymond had a coupla seasons bottoming out in Golden State, he know what that is and he knows how to come back from it.
How do you think Draymond goes over in OKC? It'll take a minute but once they accept that he is a part of their team--they will worship him like Brando in Apocalypse Now. He can walk around shirtless ranting like a homeless person and disciples will appear to transcribe his words and make commentary.
And once they move on from Shai-Gilgeous (to be replaced by Scoot...?) (***), they'll be nothing but young pups in need of a master. If Draymond isn't that guy, who is?
Imagine a team of Scoot, Giddey, Holgren, Dieng, Robinson-Earl, Poku, Tre Mann, Jalen Williams, Bazeley and Aaron Wiggins (and, of course, at least two new rookies every year). Throw Coach Draymond in the middle of that and these young men will have all they need to become ballers. A team raised on raw meat and harsh reality, a team that plays hard and smart (making smart look stupid) night in, night out. (****)
(....It makes perfect sense in my brain....Not in a million years could this deal ever happen, but I kinda love it)
(*) Incidentally, I believe they should pay everyone as much as possible for as long as possible. It ain't my money and besides, what do you own a team for if you're not overpaying the talent? There are plenty of dudes that would be more than happy to go broke winning championships with Klay and Curry.
(**) My bet is on Moody. The way they talk him up and then play him 7 mins on opening night feels like they're selling everyone on his trade value.
(***) Hey, Miami: gimme Nikola Jovic, Kyle Lowry and all the draft picks/swaps allowed by law for SGA. Yo, Pat Riley, you in?
(****) Of course, if they ever crash landed in the Andes, you know they're all cannibalizing each other by the end of the first day.
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