Blue Man Hoop
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: Kevin Durant’s departure marks the end of an era

By Tony Pesta

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 3: Andre Iguodala #9, Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23, and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 3, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 3: Andre Iguodala #9, Stephen Curry #30, Draymond Green #23, and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors look on during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 3, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Kevin Durant has left the Golden State Warriors and with him goes the end of an era for the Dubs.

The Golden State Warriors have been on the top of the basketball world for half a decade. Five trips to the NBA Finals and three championships all contribute to perhaps the greatest dynasty in league history. With Kevin Durant on his way to the Brooklyn Nets, the Warriors face an uncertain future.

Like most dynasties, the Warriors have hit a decline incredibly fast. It seems like just yesterday the Dubs were being prematurely crowned as the 2019 NBA Champions after signing DeMarcus Cousins. In quick fashion, the Dubs watched as Cousins, Durant, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney all fell with devastating injuries in the playoffs. Suddenly, their championship hopes had plummetted.

Even if KD returned, the Warriors were going to be in a tough position. Now, they are at rock bottom. As a result of Durant’s decision, the Dubs have scrambled to keep the ship afloat. A sign-and-trade will be bringing All-Star point guard, D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors, but this fit seems more like an act of desperation rather than a genuinely good deal.

Sadly, Russell’s acquisition comes with a cost. In order to make the deal work, the Dubs had to part ways with the 2015 Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala. Iggy became a crowd favorite over the years and displayed more heart than anyone could have asked.

It only gets worse for the Dubs, who now have limited cap space to sign new players after being forced to give Thompson a max contract or risk losing him too. With their decreased cap, the Dubs are running out of options to round out their roster and will likely lose players such as Kevon Looney and Quinn Cook in the process.

To top things off, the Warriors have said their final goodbyes to Oracle Arena. This building became an iconic landmark in the NBA this decade, quickly being acknowledged as one of the loudest arenas in the game. The Dubs have played their last game in the Oracle and will be moving to a different location this season.

Next. 3 Reasons to love the Russell trade. dark

Things might be bad, but Curry and Draymond Green remain healthy and on the roster. Add the eventual return of Thompson and the Dubs still have a star-studded lineup. However, it is obvious that an era is coming to an end for the Warriors. Regardless of if they continue to see success, the Dubs are entering a new chapter in their story.

Home/Warriors Free Agency