Golden State Warriors Offseason Outlook: Champs Making Changes?
After being eliminated by the Lakers in the second round, some cleanup is in order
The Golden State Warriors had the opportunity to repeat and blew it. A squad that went 44–38 and barely escaped the Play-in ultimately fell to the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs.
While Steve Kerr and Draymond Green have promised that the dynasty isn’t over yet and Steph Curry thinks the Warriors can come back, it’s clear that Golden State will have to make some moves to keep it going.
Front Office Friction
Before getting into the players, it’s worth exploring news that broke yesterday regarding Golden State’s President of Basketball Operations, Bob Myers. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported that Myers and the Warriors have been far from an extension agreement for months. It’s particularly concerning considering his contract expires June 30 — nearly a week before free agency begins. In a time when the Warriors need to extend their core pieces, the biggest one is the guy running the show.
“Both sides exchanged offers and counter-offers several months ago, and there has since been no traction on a new deal, league sources say. The Warriors have not yet presented an offer that has blown Myers away, but there’s also a growing sense that even a competitive market offer — near the top of the executive food chain — may not keep Myers with the franchise that he joined in April 2011 as an assistant general manager before his promotion to GM in April 2012.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Myers is “torn” about the decision, in large part due to the relationships he has cultivated with Curry, Thompson, Green, and Head Coach Steve Kerr.
Kerr, faced with his own expiring contract, told The Athletic that the Warriors have a full plate of decisions this offseason, adding, “My contract situation is not, nor should it be, at the top of the list. Right now Bob’s contract situation is No. 1 because that influences a lot of the player decisions that have to be made, contracts, draft, free agency. We will get to my stuff whenever that happens and I’m in no rush for that.”
Whether or not Myers returns, the Warriors brass will still have their hands full.
Trade Rumors
Yesterday, ESPN’s Zach Lowe revealed that forward Jonathan Kuminga has garnered “a strong level of interest” from around the Association.
The 20-year-old showed signs of growth in his sophomore campaign, averaging 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 53–37–65 splits in the regular season. However, poor play in the postseason in addition to a decreased role have led to questions regarding his future with the organization. He is desiring a larger opportunity, be it in the Bay or elsewhere.
Jason Dumas of KRON 4 and Bleacher Report recently tweeted that Kuminga will be showing off his skills at open NBA runs around the country:
Besides Kuminga’s desire for an increased role, another Warrior could be on the trading block thanks to new restrictions on the upcoming CBA.
Jordan Poole will be making $27.4 million when his contract extension begins next season. That, coupled with the re-signing of Draymond Green, would bring Golden State into a luxury tax bill that owner Joe Lacob does not want any part of — one that, with CBA penalties, could be upwards of $400 million.
If the Warriors want to retain their core pieces without giving up an arm and a leg, Poole reportedly may have to go. It’d be a shame given the career season he had — 20.4 PPG and 4.5 APG along with 43–33–87 splits and one punch taken — but this league is a business, after all.
Futures of Draymond Green and Klay Thompson
It’s no secret that these two will be back with the Warriors, but the question becomes, “At what price?”
Green, despite his one-year Player Option, is expected to test free agency in search of a multi-year deal and a chance to stay with Golden State. If it’s anything similar to the four-year, $100 million extension he signed in 2019, that could add major complications to the team’s payroll, especially considering Curry’s contract goes above $50 million beginning next season and Andrew Wiggins’s deal is hovering between $24 and $28 million of guaranteed money.
Though there is no rumored range of what Green’s new deal would look like, the Warriors will find a way to make it work.
As for Thompson, who holds a commanding $43 million guaranteed for the 2023–24 season, much has been made about his future in the Bay. After a subpar postseason for the 33-year-old sharpshooter, which ended in an eight-point performance on 2–12 shooting from deep in game six, Thompson’s contractual value — and perhaps his role — could change going forward.
While the Warriors will have to find a way to work around Thompson’s salary, they’ll also have to figure out if he should move from the starting lineup to the bench. That probably won’t happen given his extensive resume and his value to the organization, but others disagree. SFGATE’s Alex Siquig recently made a case for the five-time All Star to embrace a new role heading into next season:
“His time as a reliable second scoring option is likely over, and that is probably obvious to everyone but Thompson. Luckily, he’s tailor-made for the role of depraved gunner off the bench, but that’s a conversation Kerr will have to handle delicately.”
“The demotion won’t be a smooth one. Thompson is a proud guy, and that pride served him incredibly well this year. He promised to bounce back from an awful start, and he delivered on that promise in the regular season. The playoffs made it clear, though, that it’s time to look for a replacement for the starting position, full time.”
-Excerpts from Alex Siquig’s article (May, 15, 2023)
The only issue with this is, where would Golden State turn to replace Thompson? As mentioned earlier, Poole could be on his way out to avoid a skyhigh luxury tax bill, and the rest of the Warriors’ guards — Gary Payton II, Donte DiVincenzo, and Moses Moody — may not be ready to take over full-time. The Warriors will either have to trust that Klay can rebound this offseason or, if it comes down to it, be creative in how they change his role and replace his production in future starting lineups.
Despite their status as the 2022 NBA champions and an established dynasty, the Warriors will have to work hard this offseason to keep it alive, retaining key factors both on and off the court.
