Golden State Warriors: Development of young core
Perhaps the biggest make-or-break factor for the Golden State Warriors, besides health, will be how the young core fairs in a high-pressure environment.
Warriors’ Youth
- Jordan Poole (22 Years)
- James Wiseman (20 Years)
- Moses Moody (19 Years)
- Jonathan Kuminga (18 Years)
This many teenagers on a team with championship aspirations is riveting, to say the least. The learning curve for Kuminga and Moody will be even more steep than usual as they do not have much time or opportunity for typical rookie blunders.
In particular, Kuminga will be tested. The No. 7 overall pick is a raw prospect with upside as a two-way defender, akin to Draymond Green. His quickest path to success is bunkering down on defense and being a versatile weapon for the Dubs on this side of the floor.
For Moody, it is simply shooting the 3-pointer. He’s one of the best volume shooters in his class and can help the Dubs enormously while Klay Thompson makes the final steps in his recovery.
Then, the spotlight turns to James Wiseman. A bumpy rookie season and MCL injury have Wiseman in an uncomfortable position. He’ll need to pull himself together and be an effective rim runner by the end of the season to keep criticism at bay.
Lastly, Jordan Poole has the task of solidifying his role with the team. He’s a streaky shooter with some skills as a playmaker. Blossoming into a spark plug scorer in the second unit will make Poole a valuable asset for the Dubs.