It’s shaping up to be an ugly season for the Golden State Warriors.
Fans of the Golden State Warriors are wincing at the thought of being a lottery team once again.
The Warriors spent half of a decade on top of the Western Conference. For five consecutive seasons, only two teams managed to take the Dubs to more than six games en route to the NBA Finals. Here, the Warriors captured three championships in five attempts.
Each season, the Warriors grew stronger. However, things are changing drastically. For the first time since 2012, it seems the Dubs will be drafting in the lottery this year.
This is for a few reasons. Major losses in the offseason landed the franchise in a vulnerable position. Without star and veteran talents such as Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston, the Warriors were at risk for a season such as this.
Follow this up with key injuries to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green to deliver a league-worst 3-14 record for the Dubs. This seems like rock bottom for a franchise that had just competed in five straight NBA Finals but it may be a blessing in disguise.
This dynasty had a limited window to begin with. Curry is only getting older and significant injuries to key players were bound to come eventually. Now, the Warriors have a chance to get a leg up on their inevitable rebuild.
By the time the season ends, the Warriors will have two valuable assets for the future. A 2020 NBA Draft pick as well as 23-year old D’Angelo Russell. Both of these assets can be used as trade bait for another star or act as cornerstones of the franchise moving forward.
This versatility offered by an ugly season is what makes this year worthwhile. The Warriors get a chance to test their young core of D-Lo, Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall with the added security of an upcoming lottery pick.
The Warriors have options and the front office has proven to be capable of taking advantage of these types of scenarios. Expect the Warriors to be back in contention very soon.