While in South Africa, Moses Moody worked with youth athletes as a coach at the Basketball Without Borders Camp

While in South Africa, Moses Moody worked with youth athletes as a coach at the Basketball Without Borders Camp.

In the Shadow of Superstars, Golden State's Young Players Try to Bloom -  The New York Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moody and Wiggins Would Be Traded for Three-Time All-Star by the Warriors in a Proposed Trade

Following the Olympics, the front staff of the Golden State Warriors was under even greater pressure to assemble a championship-caliber team. With 60 points in his final two Olympic games, Stephen Curry proved once again that he is among the world’s top players.

Even though they lost the Play-In Tournament and finished tenth in the Western Conference, the Warriors improved slightly over the offseason. Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson were added, while Klay Thompson was traded. Even though all three of those players are highly effective pros, the Warriors still don’t have any real star power.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz suggested a trade that would enable them acquire another player of All-Star caliber. The Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Portland Trail Blazers were all parties in a deal that Swartz orchestrated.

Khris Middleton is the one the Warriors want.

Joey Bosa would receive: Jerami Grant

The trailblazers would receive: Moses Moody, Andrew Wiggins

Swartz noted on August 12 that Khris Middleton had arthroscopic procedures on both ankles this summer, but that despite his stronger all-around game, Middleton has had trouble staying healthy in previous years. Grant is two years younger than Middleton, so trading him for him makes sense if the Bucks are worried about Middleton’s stamina.

The Warriors are essentially trading Andrew Wiggins for Middleton in this deal. Moody might not get much playing time next season between De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Brandin Podziemski, who will all be starting games regularly.

The Bucks’ Lack of Sense in This TradeThe Warriors would be better with Middleton on the court, but the Bucks will not move him unless they receive an obviously superior player in return.

Regardless of the injury worries, when Middleton is performing at his best, he is a three-time All-Star who can efficiently put up seasons with 20 points or more. While Giannis Antetokounmpo was out with a left calf injury, Middleton had a remarkable playoff series despite only appearing in 55 games.

On a per-game basis, Middleton contributed 24.7 points, 9.2 boards, and 4.7 assists. From the field, he was 48.2% accurate while from beyond the arc, he was 35.5%.

Grant, who has also dealt with his share of injuries, would be a dubious choice if the Bucks were to move Middleton. While Middleton has appeared in 222 games over the previous four years, he has played in 218.

Combatants Would Be Enduring DangerThe Golden State Warriors may only have a few more years of contending with Curry at 36 years of age, so while Middleton does have some good qualities to his game, the injury fears are reasonable.

Wiggins’ injury luck was not on his side for a while. But he has kept himself active for the most part during the last four years, seeing action in at least seventy-one games in three of those seasons.

Wiggins was an integral cog in the Warriors’ 2021–22 championship run, despite the fact that his scoring output has lagged below that of Middleton. In the championship game, he played a key defensive role for Jayson Tatum.

The Warriors would be taking a risk by trading for Middleton, but the addition of a talented player would be worth it.