BLAKE GOES TO GOLDEN STATE FOR BROOKS, BAZEMORE
The Golden State Warriors acquired combo guard Steve Blake from the Los Angeles Lakers for swingmen MarShon Brooks and Kent Bazemore.
What does it give the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are a true contender this season, and Blake is the proven veteran combo guard they need to shore up their bench unit. This is a very smart deal for Golden State, as Blake can back up star {P Stephen Curry} at the point and let {P Jordan Crawford} shift to shooting guard (his more natural position). That allows {P Draymond Green} to play more forward, where he's needed lately due to injuries in the Warriors' frontcourt. The Warriors take on a bit of short-term salary here, but also free some up if needed this summer (since Blake's deal is expiring and Brooks' wasn't).
What does it give the Los Angeles Lakers
The proud Lakers franchise is going through a transition year, currently stuck in the West basement. That makes moving Blake a no-brainer, since he might have left anyway this summer via free agency and {P Kendall Marshall} has settled in as the team's primary point guard. Brooks and Bazemore are both above-average shooting guard prospects, with Brooks at one time garnering some {P Kobe Bryant} comparisons (although obviously that's hyperbole). Bazemore may be the gem of this deal, as he's a super-long defender showing solid improvement this year.
Fantasy impact
Blake's fantasy value will probably be the same in Golden State as it was in L.A.: solid, but not great. He had more chances to start with the Lakers, but the Warriors have a high-volume offense. On the Warriors this deal probably hurts the fantasy value of {P Harrison Barnes}, who now likely will have to compete more with the underrated {P Draymond Green} for minutes backing up {P Andre Iguodala}. On the Lakers it's worth monitoring how Brooks and Bazemore do down the stretch, since L.A. is giving several young guys significant playing time. That said, it's hard to see Brooks or Bazemore stealing minutes from any of the current Lakers starters anytime soon.
