Asset management is undoubtedly key to winning NBA championships, with the Golden State Warriors having been blessed with a high-level front office over the past decade.
Although asset rankings doesn’t necessarily translate to favoritism for short-term success, it can provide a projection for the outlook of each team and who is set up for prosperity over the coming years.
After some major offseason moves, the Golden State Warriors sit as a middle-of-the-road team when it comes to team asset rankings.
In a recent piece for HoopsHype, Yossi Gozlan has ranked all 30 NBA teams by asset possession — that is a combination of current players and future draft capital. The Warriors ranked 16th, owing to their aging core with four of their best players 33 or older.
"“Between Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, Wiggins may hold the most value at 28 years old on a great contract. Stephen Curry still holds immense trade value (No. 9) and is the main factor keeping the Warriors this high”, Gozlan wrote."
Golden State’s decision to move young guard Jordan Poole for 38-year-old Chris Paul undoubtedly hurt them in these rankings, even if you think the 24-year-old’s four-year, $128 million contract isn’t team friendly.
The Warriors clearly entered a far greater win-now approach during the offseason, though they did retain Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, each of who could boost the franchise up these rankings should they have strong third seasons.
Asset rankings is far from a forecast of this season’s expected results. The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets are just two spots above Golden State in 14th, while one of the favorites in the East, the Milwaukee Bucks, are one position below the Warriors in 17th.
The rankings are headed by the Oklahoma City Thunder with their plethora of young talent and raft of future draft capital. The San Antonio Spurs are second thanks to Victor Wembanyama, while the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics round out the top five.