For the Golden State Warriors, this season is going to be a training ground for the future, and that’s how we should define it heading into the offseason.
In six months, it won’t matter the Golden State Warriors’ record. The 9th seed and the 15th seed both enter next season at 0-0 without any accolades to their name.
Golden State will have this season defined not by their record but by their improvements.
However, their record, 3-14, could put in them in historic company as one of the worst year-over-year win percentage drops in league history. Overall, when they bounce back next year to repeat that history, many will forget this season.
That said, there will be a key few figures for each player that we can look back on to define their play and whether they’ll be a capable asset moving forward.
An example of one is Jordan Poole’s field goal percentage.
Can it increase to over 30%? 35%?
We know head coach Steve Kerr didn’t bring him into a quintessential situation. Kerr would’ve rather started the 20-year-old’s career off in the G-League prior to throwing him to the wolves. But, with limited active players, he’s had to make do with what he has in his arsenal.
Aside from Poole, players like Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans III need to step up their efficiency. They need to be both more productive and more efficient in their second season or risk being let go at the end of their rookie contracts.
There will be opportunities for inexperienced players and veterans alike to write or re-write their careers. Alec Burks is doing that right now as he’s averaging a career-high 14.5 points per game. Even Glenn Robinson III is proving himself as a true three-point threat.
Both may have shown enough to gain free agency interest this coming offseason or potential trade interest in a few months.
This offseason neither of these players had much league-wide interest, one reason they signed in Golden State. They needed a team go bring them in and show their value to the rest of the NBA, and with Stephen Curry sidelined, they’ve been able to bring a spark to this helpless roster.
At the end of the year, the Warriors will go ahead and prepare for the draft and the 2020-2021 season. That’ll be a championship-caliber team taking the court, and whoever performs well now will have the best chance at cracking that 15-man roster.