There is not much room to complain about the Golden State Warriors’ offseason. Although they missed on a few potential targets who could have helped round out the entire roster — the additions Golden State made will go a long way towards being competitive this season.
As part of ESPN‘s grading of the Western Conference, the Warriors received an A- for a nearly flawless offseason. ESPN does not explain why the Dubs did not earn a higher grade other than briefly mentioning how they failed to use their taxpayer mid-level exception.
The 2021 NBA offseason was nearly perfect for the Golden State Warriors. Let us break down their best moves and why they are set up for success.
I’d list the decision not to use the MLE as the biggest downfall of the Warriors’ offseason. This could have been used to fill some holes in the lineup such as their need for a backup point guard to lead the second unit. On the other hand, adding names like Otto Porter Jr., Andre Iguodala and Nemanja Bjelica all for the minimum (rather than using the MLE) deserves some credit.
Warriors key offseason additions:
- Jonathan Kuminga
- Andre Iguodala
- Moses Moody
- Nemanja Bjelica
- Otto Porter Jr.
Warriors key offseason losses:
- Kelly Oubre Jr.
- Nico Mannion
- Eric Paschall
- Alen Smailagić
- Jordan Bell
From the looks of it, the Dubs’ additions will outweigh or at least balance their losses. And, one move that won’t be credited here is the simple fact that Klay Thompson will be rejoining the team later in December.
The Warriors will be able to count on Bjelica for some spacing in the frontcourt (38.7 percent career 3-point shooter). The same goes for Porter who is a quality 3-and-D wing to bolster their bench and compensate for the loss of Kelly Oubre. Finally, Iguodala brings his veteran savvy and experience to a team full of youth.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will rightfully command most of the national attention around the Warriors. But, fans can not wait to see the Dubs’ young core hit the floor for the first time.
James Wiseman is gearing up for redemption in his second season while Jordan Poole is expected to continue his growth as an offensive threat. Meanwhile, both Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody built some hype for themselves by flashing potential in the Las Vegas Summer League.
All in all, the Warriors added some key names who will end up playing significant roles next season. On paper, at least, the Dubs had a pretty good offseason.