The Golden State Warriors are coming off an incredible season where they won their 4th title in the last 7 years. After struggling with injuries for at least a couple of seasons, the Dubs were finally fully healthy this season. With their championship core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green leading the way and young players like Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole stepping up, the Warriors had a winning formula on their side and unsurprisingly dominated the competition in the playoffs.
After a team wins a championship, it is very rare to see the team letting go of an important player. While the Golden State Warriors would like to continue the trend, it seems like they might have to sacrifice one of their four key players, namely Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole.
The Warriors have a unique conundrum at their hands right now. While Wiggins and Poole become unrestricted free agents in 2023, Klay and Draymond have an extra year and will be free agents in 2024.
Given that four of their players are eligible for contract extensions this offseason, the Warriors might want to secure all of their players. Still, given the sheer financial pressure the franchise is in, it is highly unlikely. Although they won the championship, it came at an enormous cost as the Dubs had the costliest team in the league last season.
These contract extensions will only increase the wage bill, and offering 4 max contracts in 2 years seems highly unlikely. Given that the Dubs might end up losing one of their players or not extending someone’s contract, Dubs fans recently reacted to a post asking which player they wouldn’t extend. The answers might surprise some.
https://twitter.com/PGSupremacy/status/1552768335812726784https://twitter.com/FearDeuce/status/1552768349226016770
Klay
— 16and0 (@16and0) July 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/ValtGang/status/1552768347703545856
Dray easy
— TackoTuesday (@playoff_tacko) July 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/DAMETIMESZNN/status/1552768369002258436
Draymond tf
— Chef curry (Parody) (@baby_face_goat) July 28, 2022
Klay
— plasticono (@plasticono215) July 28, 2022
Draymond tf
— Chef curry (Parody) (@baby_face_goat) July 28, 2022
Poole easily lol
— Alex (@0toHerr0) July 28, 2022
The answer is easy and it’s Draymond https://t.co/lU7dIqmxr8
— Honest Broncos Fan (@CharlieZNFL) July 29, 2022
klay, it really isn’t a question lol https://t.co/5xCuBbtqWF
— nihal (@kneehall20) July 29, 2022
Andrew wiggins,Inconsistent https://t.co/1jenuziPZV
— Anubz (@anuba_carl) July 29, 2022
Draymond "La para" Green https://t.co/2LwxEgrY3a
— Juan Castillo (@Kowalski_JC21) July 29, 2022
The answer is easy and it’s Draymond https://t.co/lU7dIqmxr8
— Honest Broncos Fan (@CharlieZNFL) July 29, 2022
Klay Thompson showed who he really is this year so he not getting shit from me https://t.co/j3JRScRv9K
— shifty 3k (@_itsjwill_) July 29, 2022
Poole. You can get a lot of value in a trade https://t.co/IVaY066QRj
— ShawnWick🧊 (@Shawnzooo_) July 29, 2022
Between Draymond & Klay both getting old dealing with injuries and past their primes. Wiggins just entering his prime his defense on Tatum got you a ring and Pool young athletic guard who can go off any given night you gotta keep that. https://t.co/0vMj8piEhI
— James! (@Sportsrapmoney) July 29, 2022
Show Draymond where the door is. https://t.co/EkXK030hlk
— $lik (@YamesTheYuppie) July 29, 2022
Y’all not go like this .. but klay . They NEED draymond . https://t.co/4Q8cB3OFz3
— Big Shaaaaaaq (@_IMthatONE) July 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/iamtrevion/status/1552992833673502720
It is clear that fans are unwilling to extend the contracts of their older players, like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Despite their incredible contributions for the Dubs, it seems like fans are convinced that the Warriors can successfully replace either Green or Thompson.
While Klay was the second best player for the side for a long time, he hasn’t been the same ever since he made his return last season. His numbers are still solid, but a player like Andrew Wiggins was much more impactful on both ends of the court.
As for Draymond, the forward is aging and is not in his prime. Often getting into foul trouble, Green might not be the superstar defender he once was. Recent reports of him wanting a max contract might have played a part in this as well. Given the number of young players they have, fans clearly think that the aging championship core except Stephen Curry is expendable.
