Golden State Warriors: 3 Ways to upgrade at each position
By Tony Pesta
Golden State Warriors must improve backcourt
Current rotation: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Mychal Mulder, Nico Mannion
Starting with the backcourt, the Golden State Warriors are already in pretty good shape. Having Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to lead the charge is quite the blessing, after all. Nonetheless, this team can improve, specifically in the second unit.
Homegrown Options:
The return of Thompson is the greatest homegrown option the Warriors have for improving at any position. I’m not going to waste time explaining why Thompson’s return raises this team’s ceiling, you already know his work.
Moreover, the Warriors have the option of developing Jordan Poole, who played the best basketball of his career down the stretch last season. Poole posted 14.5 points and 2.2 assists per game in the final month of the season and could be a spark plug in the backcourt next year.
Other options include Nico Mannion and Mychal Mulder, though the path to developing these players is likely too long to maximize the Dubs’ title hopes by next season.
Trades:
With assets such as Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre, James Wiseman and multiple picks, the Warriors have the luxury of targeting just about any position they need this offseason. However, I’d suspect they aim for a different position other than in the backcourt.
Nevertheless, likely names here include Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine. If forming a three-headed monster at the guard position is their plan, those two high-powered scorers are the Warriors’ best options.
Free Agency:
The market for veteran guards could be somewhat decent this year. Long shot targets such as Mike Conley and Goran Dragic deserve recognition, but more possible names such as Evan Fournier, J.J. Reddick, Patty Mills, Avery Bradley and Derrick Rose should be at the forefront of Golden State’s free agency list.