The Golden State Warriors have some notable decisions looming as they seek to retain their championship roster and evolve into further sustained success.
At the crux of the situation — are contract extensions for four-time champion Draymond Green, up-and-coming guard Jordan Poole, and the revamped first-time All-Star Andrew Wiggins.
While ownership could continue their spending spree and hand out exorbitant contracts to all three, there will undoubtedly be negotiation priorities that general manager Bob Myers and the front office will put in place.
Andrew Wiggins should be the Golden State Warriors’ biggest offseason priority, owing to multiple factors around age, on-court value and the team’s roster construction.
It would be unconscionable to think, 12 months ago, that Wiggins would be a greater priority than Green. Given his importance to the franchise over the last decade, and the enjoyment he’s brought fans through multiple championships, some members of the Warriors fraternity may still see that as blasphemous. But Wiggins proved himself the team’s second-best player in the NBA finals, a factor that while important, isn’t the underlying reason for his priority.
Firstly, his age bridges an otherwise concerning age demographic of the Warriors roster. The franchise has four players over the age of 32, and seven players 25 or under. That’s 11 combined players either before or after their considered prime, leaving Wiggins and Kevon Looney as the only two players in the sweet spot of their careers.
That will make winning another championship incredibly difficult across the next two-to-three years. At least the 2021-22 championship-winning roster had the likes of Otto Porter Jr and Gary Payton II, both 29, whom the Warriors have since lost in free agency. It’s an important component in Looney’s re-signing, along with the team’s lack of other reliable centers. Speaking of the roster makeup, let’s pivot into that.