For reference here is what happens if the warriors sign 8 veteran minimums (I.e. losses reduced to 2): https://fanspo.com/nba/trades/LwyQbO6xQKh8Pp

Personally, I think the warriors are unquestionably a contender immediately. Knicks, pacers, thunder and timberwolves simply aren’t in that tier. 76ers, Celtics, bucks are all eastern conference, so that leaves in the grand scheme of things mavericks, suns, nuggets. Only have to beat two of them, and 1 eastern conference team. I’d put them rank 5 to 7 and give them a 1 in 4 chance of winning (and I’m not even accounting for synergy yet…).

This trade works because of a few reasons:

1. Because I said so

2. because LeBron and Durant can effectively hold their teams hostage

3. because the warriors will do anything Steph asks of them

4. because they are old

5. because the suns get a lot out of adding Anthony davis

6. because the pistons get some young prospects

7. because the pistons, lakers, suns all improve in wins in this trade scenario

8. because the Lakers will get 4 picks and have $51 million fall off in cap space next year so they can start over post LeBron

9. Because the warriors can then afford to sign 5 to 8 players on veterans minimum salaries to fill out their roster, which they can do again each year until LeBron/durant/curry retire. Then they’ll get a bunch of cap space.

10. because I said so

The moral of the story is, this is feasible.