The LA Lakers have been mentioned in trade rumors involving the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Love and Klay Thompson, as Los Angeles is looking to pick up the smooth shooting Thompson in a three team deal if that goes through and they likely would send Steve Nash and the number seven overall pick in the NBA draft on Thursday
The Lakers have the number seven pick after ending up in the lottery and according to ESPN.com, the team has explored moving the pick and trying to acquire Klay Thompson. The team also may wait to see if Joel Embiid falls in the draft due to his foot injury and that could be what keeps the team in that pick, as he likely would have gone number one had he been healthy. The Warriors were in on the Kevin Love trade talks and those appear to have slowed down now as the teams cannot agree on compensation.
Here is a look at the Warriors from earlier in the season and the deal involving Andrew Bogut. Bogut was acquired in a trade with the Bucks previously and after dealing with injuries last season and missing 50 games, he averaged the lowest production of his career with just five points and seven rebounds, but he greatly improved those numbers in the playoffs. Bogut when healthy can be a productive force for the Warriors and his size is a big advantage for the team. Bogut was much better in the playoffs after averaging nearly a double-double with 12.2 points and nine rebounds and the Warriors could be a deadly team in the West if he is back to full strength.
Bogut dealt with some injury issues last season and played in just 32 games for the Warriors, but he was much better in the playoffs while playing in 12 games and he doubled his scoring output and also increased his rebounding. The Warriors were one of the surprise teams in the NBA last season after upsetting the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs and now the team has added Andre Iguodala and is expecting to be contenders in the West.
The Warriors had a chance to get into the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, but he obviously opted for the Rockets instead, but the fact that Golden State was in the running says a lot about the positive steps for the franchise. Howard's free agent saga was called a "circus" by Bogut and he is preparing for his own path in free agency next summer, as he is set to be on the market unless he signs an extension with the Warriors.
Bogut was one reason why the team was able to take down the Denver Nuggets despite being the road team in the series, as he dropped a fantastic stat line of over 20 rebounds, 10 points with four blocks and three assists in Game 6 of that series and he also showed his toughness by playing through his injuries in the next round and after getting in shape and rehabbing all offseason, he looks ready to dominate in 2013-14.
Bogut's season will give him the chance to show that he can stay healthy for teams looking to sign him in free agency and it's also his chance to show the Warriors why he could be worth keeping. The team added Iguodala to a roster that already has David Lee, Stephen Curry, Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson and with Mark Jackson developing as a head coach, the team could be one to watch this year.
Last season the team went 47-35 on the season and ranked seventh in scoring in the league, averaging over 101 points per game and if the defense improves, they could be a much more balanced team. Having Bogut healthy will give the team the chance to remain in the top five of rebounds per game, as they ranked third in the league with 45 per game last season. Bogut should have some suitors, including teams like the Miami Heat and the NY Knicks if he hits the market next summer as a free agent.
