Golden State Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob pushes back against controversial notion
The Golden State Warriors have taken a widely-discussed and controversial plan around their future in recent years, dubbed a ‘two-timeline’ approach that ultimately never got off the ground.
After taking James Wiseman second overall in 2020, and lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody the year after, there was a clear direction in place for the franchise to maintain success over the course of a 15+ year period.
Golden State Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob insists the notion of a two-timeline plan was never put in place at the franchise.
The idea of long-term sustained success has seemingly fell by the wayside in recent months — firstly with the decision to deal Wiseman at February’s trade deadline, and then the recent move to trade their most proven young piece, Jordan Poole, for a 38-year-old Chris Paul.
However, speaking with Bay Area News Group’s Madeline Kenney (subscription required), Warrior owner Joe Lacob insists there was never a two-timeline approach put in place.
"“There’s no such thing as the two timelines”, Lacob said. “There never was and still isn’t and never will be. There’s only one timeline, and the timeline is every year to put the best product on the floor, to have the best team, to compete the best you can to win a championship.”"
Lacob’s resistance to the idea is now very easy to say in hindsight. His franchise’s investment in the draft indicates otherwise, with the Warriors having carefully balanced the on and off-court contrasts of an aging core and talented young brigade.
They did have success with another championship in 2022, though the youngsters outside Poole had very little impact. The entire two-timeline notion came to a head last season, starting in training camp when future hall-of-famer Draymond Green savagely punched Poole in an incident forever etched into memory for all the wrong reasons.
The Warriors have since vehemently backed their aging stars — Green, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry — by moving on from Wiseman and Poole while re-signing Green and reiterating their ‘win-now’ approach by acquiring Paul.
Kuminga remains but his future is under constant speculation after a disappointing playoff campaign. Moody appears the safest of the young players, probably because his veteran mindset belies his age and doesn’t lead to personality clashes.
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Lacob’s latest comments are trying to swing the narrative of what’s occurred over recent years. He’s entitled to that — he’s a great owner who’s rightfully garnered great admiration from the fanbase. However, that same fanbase is knowledgeably enough to know that sustained success was once desired, and that anything said now is simply an attempt to rewrite history.