Golden State Warriors not sacrificing future for instant success

When the Golden State Warriors received the 2nd pick in the 2020 draft, most experts immediately called for the team to trade Wiggins and the pick.

The Warriors’ rationale has not been all about “winning now” and capitalizing on Stephen Curry‘s championship window. Steph’s game is so effortless he could follow in Lebron’s footsteps and still be somewhat elite into his late 30’s.

An argument can be made that Draymond’s game won’t age as well as vintage wine, however, his game has created a blueprint that can be replicated.

Maybe his energy and intelligence aren’t as easy to duplicate but what he brings from a skill standpoint is becoming the norm in the modern game. Klay expects to play a long time, so we’ll see what fate decides in terms of his health.

The Wiggins Effect

Never underestimate how someone like Draymond can affect change. Wiggins is a case and point example. Wiggins is a perfect example of one man’s trash being another man’s treasure.

Often maligned in Minnesota, he’s quietly having an outstanding season with Golden State. All indications point to a reduced role and team culture as the reason for the turnaround. His defense and energy will figure into a future championship core in the not too distant future.

Can you imagine this version of Wiggins and a healthy Klay wreaking havoc with their perimeter defense with Draymond and James Wiseman controlling the rim? It looks and sounds like championship defense to me.

With the number two pick, the Golden State Warrior select James Wiseman.

As a bunch of impatient irrational pundits, ridiculed and analyzed Wiseman’s lack of “fit,” I wondered how many of these so-called experts had ever seen him play.

Could anyone have predicted his shot had come so far?

Absolutely, what else was going to do besides improving his shot and overall game, while on NCAA hiatus? Regardless of how we thought his game would translate, wasn’t a rim running athletic big exactly what the Warriors needed?

Every other aspect of his game is simply a bonus. All indications from a simple eye test suggest “fit” has not been an issue.

The blueprint

When Bob Myers took over the team he used the Spurs as an example of what kind of franchise he wanted Golden State to be modeled after. From all early indications, he is right on track.

The Spurs over the years of their mini dynasty, winning now was always the goal but not at the expense of the future. They made good draft selections and developed the talent organically.  Since they had Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli they were able to take a flyer on someone like Kawhi Leonard with minimal risk.

Another parallel exists between the two teams: season-ending injury to a top player sending a playoff team to the lottery. They chose Duncan which forever changed their destiny. Wiseman has the potential to do the same for Golden State.

If the Warriors stay the course and keep the Minnesota pick, they could have two franchise cornerstones learning from the present core three of Klay, Steph, and Draymond.

It is the exact same thing that helped the Spurs build a mini dynasty.  With consecutive loaded drafts for the next two seasons, the potential for the Warriors to duplicate the Spurs’ sustained success for a decade is within reach.

Wiseman and his new young sidekick will have the unique opportunity to learn to play the right way from the current core the same way that Parker and Kawhi learned from Duncan.

If Myers and the front office stay the course sustained excellence will follow.