Loser: Sacramento, Detroit and every other Draymond suitor
It seemed at least possible, if never particularly likely, that Draymond Green would consider other suitors in free agency. The Warriors were facing a mammoth luxury tax bill on top of the new harsh measures lobbied against teams over the second apron — that is, with massive payrolls. Perhaps another team could have swept in and stolen him.
But then Jordan Poole was shipped out for Chris Paul, and all of the teams lining up for Green started turning elsewhere. Green would have revolutionized the defense and culture on teams like the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons or Dallas Mavericks; instead, they all turn to plans B and C and D.
Loser: Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga has been marginalized on the Warriors despite his prodigious talent, and that has largely been because of the non-shooting players above him. It’s hard to play Kuminga in the playoffs when you need to give large minutes to Green and Kevon Looney. If Green had walked, Kuminga was the natural replacement to step into a high-minute role. Alas, that is not to be.
Loser: Title Contenders
The Houston Rockets never made it to the NBA Finals. Neither did the Memphis Grizzlies, the Portland Trail Blazers or the LA Clippers. The Boston Celtics made it but didn’t win a title. All of those teams across the past decade fell to the Warriors in at least one of their six trips to the NBA Finals. Teams across the league are ready for Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors to stop being in their way.
That doesn’t mean the Warriors will enter next season as the title favorites, but they are always a threat to make a run. That may not have been the case if Green had joined another team, but with their defensive anchor back in place, the Warriors have a lot of winners, and a lot of winning in their future.