Over the last several seasons, the Golden State Warriors have been the pinnacle of NBA dominance, making the NBA Finals in five of the last six seasons. Stephen Curry has changed the way basketball has been played.
After a season with Curry and Klay Thompson combining for a mere five games and the Dubs totaling just 15 wins, this was supposed to be the year Golden State got their swagger back.
Their first two games of the season proved differently, and after Klay Thompson’s second season-ending injury, the hope was immediately suffocated from the franchise. They have had bright spots with Curry’s dominance though.
The Golden State Warriors’ inability to dominant this season has hurt their chance for premier, top-tier targets that hit the buyout market.
The Warriors were a top-six team in the Western Conference at one point, but they’ve struggled and are now under .500. This drastic fall from dominance has hurt their ability to attract top-tier free agents.
While Blake Griffin did “really like” the Warriors, LaMarcus Aldridge isn’t giving them the time of day. This could be a trend moving forward as stars continue to get bought out. Aldridge is the first major domino to fall.
Sadly, Aldridge has already named the list of teams that he’ll be willing to talk with, and Golden State wasn’t on that list. Who was? Here’s who cracked the list according to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Yahoo Sources: LaMarcus Aldridge will have conversations with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets before deciding on his next destination.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 26, 2021
This could continue to be a trend for Golden State.
The Warriors freed up two roster spots at the trade deadline with Brad Wanamaker being sent to Charlotte and Marquese Chriss being sent to San Antonio. Chriss was out for the season anyway, so that’s not a big loss. Wanamaker hadn’t been near the talent that they had hoped for.
The Warriors didn’t get much worse at the deadline despite losing these two. They did what they needed to do. Although the Dubs didn’t make many blockbuster moves like trading Kelly Oubre Jr., they did keep a playoff-contending team in check.
With those roster spots now open, they could turn to the buyout market. Sadly, for the last several big-name free agents, they haven’t been given a real shot. LA isn’t even talking to them and Griffin went elsewhere.
The Warriors haven’t needed to add much notable talent lately given their already strong base, but the trend may continue into the offseason, especially considering how the team will have little money to work with.
The Big 3 is growing old, and their contracts will handicap the team from getting star free agents. Thompson’s return next season should help their chances in the buyout market, but the Warriors have lost their luster as other teams have become the dominant force in the league.