The Golden State Warriors saw a disappointing end to their postseason campaign after a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Although the loss marked the end of their title run, it also presented the Warriors with an opportunity for the future.
Golden State knew that they could make another run at the championship with the core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. With this mindset, the Dubs entered the postseason with many plans to make the necessary positional upgrades. Unfortunately, these plans have all but failed thus far.
Several free agent targets are joining other teams, while other deals have been held up by pre-existing contract negotiations. With the departure of Kevon Looney this offseason, the Warriors’ overall roster strength has been further compromised.
While there are still some moves that would allow the Dubs to become a competitive side in the West, they are subject to speculation at this stage. When taking a look at the players the Warriors have available at their disposal at this moment, the Dubs look more like a lottery team.
Golden State Warriors Roster
PG: Stephen Curry, Yuri Collins, Taran Armstrong
SG: Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield
SF: Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody
PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos
C: Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis, June Mar Fajardo
The Problems With Golden State’s Current Roster
The primary issue with Golden State’s current roster is the lack of depth in virtually every position. From the point guard to the center, the Warriors experience a significant drop-off in talent that simply cannot be accounted for on a team with title aspirations.
In the point guard slot, Curry remains one of the most threatening players on the floor, even at the age of 37 years old. With averages of 24.5 points and 6.0 assists per game, the Warriors guard is one of the best in the game. Unfortunately, the talent deficit after Curry is dramatic, as Yuri Collins and Taran Armstrong emerge as backups.
Collins is coming off his rookie season with the Warriors, where he only averaged 1.0 points and 2.0 assists per game in 8.0 minutes of playing time. Meanwhile, Armstrong played in the G League and is on a two-way contract with the team.
The shooting guard position is a little less concerning, as Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield hold down the spots. Both played a vital role on the team last season while emerging as significant contributors.
Podziemski notched an increase in output in his sophomore season, recording an average of 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Meanwhile, Hield remained a solid rotation player, averaging 11.1 points on shooting splits of 41.7% from the field and 37.0% from three-point range.
The Warriors’ frontcourt is where several issues begin to emerge. While Jimmy Butler holds his place as the starting small forward, Golden State is likely to lose a major asset in Jonathan Kuminga this offseason.
Although a deal is rumored to be in the works to keep the forward with the side to start the new campaign, it is expected that the 22-year-old will be traded before the deadline. In such a situation, Golden State would be forced to turn to Moses Moody as their backup small forward.
Kuminga’s absence also has an impact on the power forward position, as the Warriors lack a solid backup for Draymond Green. The 22-year-old’s length and athleticism allowed him to become a solid replacement for either of their two forwards.
With him potentially out of the rotation, the Warriors will have to look to Gui Santos to play a bigger part. Last season, Santos recorded an average of 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. When compared to an All-Defensive team selection like Green, who averaged 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game last season, the Warriors see another shortfall.
The Dubs’ big man rotation presents an intriguing prospect for the future. Both Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis are viewed as valuable assets for the team. While Post is a floor-spacing big, Jackson-Davis is a more traditional inside presence. The tandem makes for a solid big man rotation, but their relative inexperience may be a liability in the playoffs.
Although the Dubs have some talented pieces on their roster, there are too many major issues that need to be addressed before they can even be considered a competitive team in the West.
The other crucial problem that the Warriors will undoubtedly face next season is their aging core. As solid as their core is, all three players will need to take some time off during the season to remain healthy for the playoffs.
This could be a major setback for a team aiming to establish itself among the top 10 of the Western Conference.
When taking into account the quality of competition in the West next season, at least 10 teams would be better than the Dubs, as currently constructed. These include: the Thunder, the Rockets, the Nuggets, the Clippers, the Timberwolves, the Pelicans, the Lakers, the Spurs, the Grizzlies, and the Suns.
The Outlook For The Warriors
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has not gone according to plan, but this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. With some talented players available in free agency, the Dubs could look to bolster their roster this offseason.
There is a growing expectation around the league that the Warriors will be making two crucial signings in the form of Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton soon. Although Horford has been linked to other teams, new rumors suggest that the veteran big man will sign with Golden State.
In addition to free agents, the Warriors could also look to make necessary trades, especially by utilizing assets like Kuminga to bring talented players over to their side. While facilitating these may present a challenge, the Dubs may benefit from making these moves in the long run.
