Golden State Warriors have mismatched timelines
Let’s start by tackling the Warriors’ shakey timeline. Stephen Curry will be 34 years old by the time the Dubs return to the playoffs. While he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, we have to be realistic in estimating he only has a few years left of being at the height of his powers. Draymond Green likely has even less time, regressing quickly as an offensive threat — though still playing good enough on defense to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Klay Thompson is a bit more complicated. His skill set as a 3-and-D wing is something that typically has a long life span in the NBA. At least, this style is more durable than a slashing type of player or a big man.
However, Thompson is fresh off two season-ending injuries. These consecutive setbacks will have unpredictable impacts on the rest of his career. Sure, Klay could play at a high level for many more years — but there is no telling exactly how much longer he will be elite.
This would be fine if the Dubs had a supporting cast ready to compete. But, they don’t. James Wiseman was expected to be an instant contributor with an easy role of rim-running, but his limited college experience clearly had a bigger toll than we thought. Barring a major leap in development, Wiseman is a few years away from being ready to play routine minutes on a title contender.
The same can’t be said for Jordan Poole, who has done everything needed to prove he can be a sixth man for the Dubs next season. However, I’m still not sure how reliable he will be as a leader of the second unit.
As for any potential selections in the upcoming draft, we’d have to assume they would need some time to develop, as well. This puts the Warriors in an interesting position with mismatched timelines that might not synch up for a real run at a title.