While ever since the fourth game of the season it really wasn’t up for question, the Golden State Warriors have now made it official. Their loss to the Lakers marked the team’s 47 of the season and solidified their 2020 first-round pick.
One of the trade pieces in the Warriors dealing of Kevin Durant to Brooklyn was the Warriors’ 2020 first-round pick. Well, that pick was top-20 protected, and it certainly makes the Warriors’ front office look smart.
At the time, securing a first-round pick and Durant for Russell felt like a great deal for the Nets, and the Warriors, even knowing that Klay Thompson was likely to miss most of the season, were still projected to be a top-10 team.