The Golden State Warriors dynasty is alive and well despite the doubters continuing to grow in number as the season progressed.
Having claimed their fourth title in eight seasons, Golden State is again the pinnacle of basketball. Keeping the eight-man rotation that took them atop the league will be easier said than done though, and it will require some pay cuts to be taken.
The Golden State Warriors may be able to keep their core together, but many could be on the way out as competition will mount for upcoming free agents.
For many, that could be unlikely.
The Warriors watched two-time MVP Stephen Curry, who is now 34, win his long-awaited Finals MVP award. Golden State’s unselfish offense and lockdown defense were the key reasons they were able to get past the Celtics, among other talented teams they send packing.
However, while Curry’s play was spectacular and clearly earned him the honor, the Warriors were a team that had everyone locked into a role and playing the part flawlessly. It was also an extremely unselfish group as many took backseat roles at parts of the season.
As we enter the offseason now, fans will be treated to the draft prior to free agency. The calm before the storm for some teams and the storm before the calm for others. Golden State will have a late first-round pick and then a plethora of decisions to make.
Thankfully, the core is locked up. Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, Moses Moody, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green will all be back. Those are quite literally the only players locked in for next season.
For Golden State, all eyes will be on three players — Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, and Kevon Looney — all of which could leave for more than Golden State will likely offer them this offseason. That’s where unselfishness will have to play a factor.
Both Payton II and Looney played instrumental parts in the last few series while Porter Jr. even managed to start for Steve Kerr’s side although his last few games were underwhelming in terms of production.
Payton II is a low-volume scorer, but like his dad, he has developed a reputation as one of the best defenders in the league and is the ultimate small-ball guard. He can guard all positions and is incredibly athletic as well.
As for Looney, his 22-rebound game helped close out Memphis, and he also played a key role against Boston as they often went big. Looney’s ability to switch onto guards was paramount for the Dubs as Boston’s offense was often focused on attacking Golden State’s weakest link.
Both of those two will get some intriguing offers, as with Porter Jr. who played a key role in rebounding and three-point shooting for the Dubs.
All three will be poached from Golden State unless they take pay cuts, which could be on the table as some may value the culture and organization more than a few million, but in the case of all three, big paydays could be in store.