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The 8 Worst Golden State Warriors roster decisions of the last decade

By Sam LaFrance

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts with Jordan Poole #3 during the third quarter in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts with Jordan Poole #3 during the third quarter in game seven of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 30, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Kelly Oubre Jr. of the Golden State Warriors.
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 21: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on April 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

4. Golden State Warriors send a pile of draft picks away for Kelly Oubre Jr.

A lot of these mistakes came after the departure of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2019. It makes sense. No GM really plans for the aftermath of a championship dynasty. Durant’s exit was something that could’ve gone either way. There had been rumors of his displeasure, but it was also tough to imagine the star forward walking away from such a great situation in The Bay.

Once Durant officially skipped town, the front office was left searching for his replacement, which ultimately wound up being Andrew Wiggins. That’s why the trade for Kelly Oubre Jr. is even stranger — Wiggins was already on the team.

On November 22, 2020, the Warriors shipped out four second-round picks in exchange for the left-handed wing.

Oubre’s tenure with Golden State wasn’t the best. The team went crashing out of the Play-In Tournament, and then he signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets. After the trade, Oubre played in just 55 games for the Dubs, starting in 50 of them. He scored 15.4 points per game while burying 43.9% of his attempts from the floor and just 31.6% from beyond the arc.

The risk of Oubre leaving after less than a season in The Bay was always understood. It’s part of the gamble that teams take when trading for expiring contracts. But, the limited success the Warriors saw during Oubre’s short stay makes it tough to justify offloading a quartet of draft picks, even if they were only second-rounders.

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