Last season, the Golden State Warriors‘ supporting cast flashed heart, determination and resilience. Next season, however, the Dubs will be in much better shape if that supporting cast is completely restructured top to bottom.
For as much growth as Jordan Poole, Damion Lee, Jaun Toscano-Anderson and even Andrew Wiggins showed last year, the Warriors need to do something in the offseason if they want to build a championship-caliber team before Stephen Curry hangs it up.
The Golden State Warriors can not afford to hesitate this offseason. The front office needs to be aggressive in pursuing new talent.
Yes, it might be a bitter pill to swallow, but this rendition of the Warriors is not talented or experienced enough to fully capitalize on their window for success. As much as the front office may hesitate to cough up future assets in favor of a win-now mentality, they have to acknowledge how rare it is to be in this position.
Think about it, the Warriors went nearly 50 long years without really even competing for a championship, before the perfect storm of draft picks and offseason signings collided last decade to create a dynasty. Are we sure the Dubs should split their eggs into various baskets, such as developing James Wiseman (and other picks) instead of simply going all-in to win another title while Curry is still in his prime?
Do not assume that just because the Warriors made five trips to the NBA Finals last decade that the front office will be able to rebuild a title team around new players so quickly. The truth is, the Dubs have three all-time greats on the roster and they’d be foolish to squander their last prime seasons due to a reluctance to make moves in the offseason.
The Warriors have three trade chips
The way I see it, the Warriors have a minimum of three potential trade chips this offseason. Andrew Wiggins packs the biggest punch in terms of salary, though his value on the court is only slightly higher than Kelly Oubre. The two roughly provide the same production as quality perimeter defenders and streaky outside shooters. Wiggins holds an advantage as a superior shot creator and is an overall more sound defender. But, Oubre’s price tag is significantly cheaper, making it easier for Oubre to be traded.
However, with Oubre’s contract coming to an end this summer, a sign-and-trade would be required, complicating the entire process. It is very possible Oubre leaves the franchise hanging this summer.
This leaves us to their last trade chip, James Wiseman (and numerous picks they can attach to him). This is the most valuable asset the Warriors have to deal with and they’d be foolish to not at least consider monitoring the market for him. A package of Wiseman and Wiggins is sure to bring back the maximum haul possible.
Warriors need to sign veterans
Let’s just assume the Warriors hang tight to all of their assets. If this is the case, they absolutely must get active in free agency. Utilizing every possible dollar they have to sign veterans for cheap is a necessity.
Names such as Rudy Gay, Nicolas Batum, Danny Green and Bobby Portis have been listed as potential candidates to join the Warriors next season. It isn’t too difficult to see how each one offers a steady presence of scoring and defense to add to this young Warriors team.
Simply put, the Dubs owe it to Curry and the big three to bolster this roster with more talent. The front office has all of the tools in the world to get it done. Now, they just need to go out and do it.