The Warriors were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday, falling to the Timberwolves in Game 5 of their second-round series. After taking Game 1, Golden State was without Stephen Curry for all four of its losses in the Western Conference semifinals. Would the outcome of the series have been different if Curry hadn’t been sidelined by a strained hamstring?
“I am pretty positive that if we had Steph, we’d have won this series,” team owner Joe Lacob told Anthony Slater and Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic after the game.
“I don’t even have to think what (if),” head coach Steve Kerr said when asked whether he’ll wonder what the Warriors could have done with a healthy Curry (story via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN). “I know we had a shot. I know we could have gone the distance. Maybe we wouldn’t have, but it doesn’t matter. Again, everything in the playoffs is about who stays healthy and who gets hot. Are you playing well at the right time?”
As Slater and Thompson note, the sentiment expressed by Lacob in particular is notable, since it suggests the Warriors believe in this group and don’t intend to seriously shake up the roster. Team sources tell The Athletic that the conversations within the front office entering the summer have been about how best to complement Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green, not about trying to acquire another star.
“On the surface, that’s why (Butler) signed for two more years — our belief we can make it work,” Curry said. “And we’ve proven that the last three months. Just gotta figure out what is going to get us to the next level as a whole. One guy can’t win it. Two guys can’t win it. It’s gotta be a team.”
The plan is for Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. to return as well, per Slater and Thompson, who write that Warriors ownership remains fully confident in its coaching staff and front office.
“I have a great coach and I have a great GM,” Lacob told The Athletic. “I have no problems with anything in respect to them. Mike made a fantastic trade (for Butler). Before we made that trade, we were one game under .500 and it didn’t look like we were going anywhere.
“We won a first-round series against a very good up-and-coming team with a lot of athleticism and size. I thought it was a hell of a win. Got us pretty tired probably for this series, and maybe that was just too much to overcome. In that first game (against Minnesota), Steph looked like he was going to cook, right? But what are we going to do? Stuff happens.”
For his part, Kerr also expressed enthusiasm about the Warriors going forward: “I’m excited. We’ve got Jimmy and Dray and Steph all coming back. Our young players performed really well. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Here’s more on Golden State:
- Lacob remains one of Jonathan Kuminga‘s biggest fans, according to Slater and Thompson, who say it’s “nearly impossible” to believe the Warriors owner would let the restricted free agent forward sign an offer sheet with another team and leave for nothing this summer. A new deal for Kuminga and the Warriors is still on the table, sources tell The Athletic, though both sides are also expected to consider sign-and-trade scenarios.
- “There are certainly things he has to improve on, but he’s 22 years old,” Lacob said of Kuminga. “He’s got a hell of a lot of potential, and I would think he would be a part of our future plans. Now we’ll have to see how the market all shakes out. We have a lot of evaluating to do. Not me necessarily. But everybody — from coaching staff to basketball operations. We’ll kind of sit around and talk about how we want to construct the team for next year and what the situation is with respect to him.”
- The Warriors’ decision to resist trade offers for Brandin Podziemski last offseason wasn’t unanimous within the organization, per Slater and Thompson. Some of the people who were in favor of gauging Podziemski’s market believe the team needs “more of a Jordan Poole-type play-maker,” The Athletic’s duo says. The front office also believes Golden State needs more positional size at multiple spots, Slater and Thompson add.
- Green said after the Game 5 loss that he’s “100 percent” confident the Warriors’ young players are capable of taking “the next step,” writes Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Lacob also said he thinks Golden State’s younger contributors can take “yet another leap” and defended them from online criticism. “I get very upset when I read all this crap on the internet, these comments by people, you know, ‘This guy’s crap. That guy’s crap. The drafts were terrible.’ Bull—t!” the Warriors’ owner told The Athletic. “Our drafts were not bad at all. These guys are very young. They’ve had to fit into a very difficult situation with experienced players. It’s not like they can just go out and put up numbers. So I think we’ve drafted very well. We’ve got some good young players.”
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks and HoopsHype’s Mark Deeks have published their Warriors offseason previews, looking ahead to how the team might handle Kuminga’s restricted free agency, as well as making note of other veteran free agents, like Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II.
Final Score:
Pat Riley – 1
Jimmy Butler – 0
WRONG. Heat got ousted long before Warriors.
Heat -> Lottery
Warriors -> Lottery.., then trade for Jimmy.., -> West Final 4
Well, I guess the Warriors didn’t win the championship so all the naysayers are gonna come out in this post.
But I’m thankful for the Jimmy trade and the way the team improved afterwards. Pretty incredible if you think about it..
Warriors were lottery bound, but in the bloodbath Western Conference they made it to the final four. Not too shabby.
Gary, with Steph out of the lineup and Jimmy elevated to the number 1 offensive option, he took 20 shots over two games. I’ve thought about it and that’s incredible you owe that man $110 million over the next two years. It isn’t likely Joe Lacob is thrilled with that future investment.
Going into next year the Warriors three best players will be 35, 36 and 37 years old. I don’t think that’s a realistic championship scenario. It’s reminiscent of the KG Nets disaster roster.
Steph will have to play less games and less minutes in those games every remaining year of his career. This means worse playoff seeding, and most likely a play-in. So now you have extra games vs tougher competition with some really old deteriorating bodies. The future looks bleak.
My comment above is recognizing that Pat Riley knew if Jimmy got future financial security, he would no longer be motivated to play with the effort required of a team leader and number one scoring option. And Pat Riley was absolutely correct. Playoff Jimmy disappeared when the Warriors needed him, Cancun Jimmy appeared in his place.
Number one. Joe Lacob is not worried about the $$ investment into Jimmy Butler.
The franchise makes that money easily and as owner he doesn’t need the Warriors money to finance his lifestyle. His other businesses, finances lifestyle.
He pours that Warriors cash back into the team. It’s a self sustaining asset that has appreciation and cash flow.
Ownership is hardly worried about $55 million to a basketball player, especially one who brought the team back from the dead lol
GaryRedSoxxWarriors said:
> Number one. Joe Lacob is not worried about the $$ investment
> into Jimmy Butler.
Gary, I’d say the opposite. The Warriors are run as a business with multiple investors, which are all in the business of increasing the value of their equity. That includes private equity interests and a venture syndicate with representatives for other individual investors Lacob has a fiduciary responsibility to increase the value of the equity in the firm.
The Warriors’s business model works this way:
* drive revenues with a winning product (fans pay more for tickets when the team wins)
* provide a winning product by spending more on players than other teams (the only reliable way of maintaining a superior roster is spending more money than other teams)
* spend more on players using the proceeds generated by a winning product (the only way to always have more money available is to be winning)
As Lacob says and as you can read about in the business press, the Warriors cannot afford to field losing teams because their business model requires winning. If they don’t win, they lose, literally, hundreds of millions per year. Revenues are around $800M per year whne it wins. That number is estimated to drop to under $500M if they lose… which means they can’t pay for players, which means they can’t win.
This is why Lacob and Dunleavey have been so reluctant to give up Podz and Kuminga. There has to be life after Steph. The FO has to think not only about how to win now, but how to be viable in the future.
Number two yes, the Warriors will be old next year.
Not just one guy, but three guys are old !!
Hopefully they don’t fall off a cliff next season and curry continues to play at a high level and Greymond actually looked pretty good this postseason to. His three ball is back that’s for sure and that’s a good sign for an older guy.
But yeah, you’re right. Managing the age factor is going to be a challenge.
I think in many cases, it’s easier to shoot the “three ball” with age as long as you still have legs.
Number three. The future looks bleak? Lol.
The current looks very good. Final four in the west? Not a bad showing for a team written off by many of you.
I wouldn’t say “the future looks bleak.” That’s ridiculous.
I would say there’s questions about the future and which way the team will go in the future.
To count them out and say the future looks bleak is not a statement someone giving an honest opinion would make.
Druu, you don’t give honest opinions.., you and many others just bash the Warriors because they’re the Warriors. That in fact is the truth.
The problem for the warriors is they are unlikely to improve, while the young teams that are right on their heels are very likely to get better. The warriors have had a great run, but with the age of their “big 3”, they’ve peaked.
Without Jimmy, the Warriors would have never made it to the Playin.
Number four again you have no clue.
In fact, it’s just the opposite of your assertion.
Jimmy doesn’t play if he doesn’t have financial stability. It’s just the opposite.
When Jimmy received his new contract and signed on the dotted line, his play picked up and the Warriors won 18 out of 25 games. He picked up his play and brought the Warriors back from the dead.
As far as his effectiveness against the wolves in this series, you have to hand it to Minnesota for coaching and defense. How about that?
Maybe Minnesota did a great job with its length in the key?
There was no mid range Jimmy in this series. Imagine that? Great coaching.
Maybe the later future looks bleak for GS, but I’m not ready to write off the Warriors until they give me reason to. Curry is an anomaly, Butler is still solid, and they have a decent enough supporting cast. Trying to withstand a Curry injury (who is arguably the most important player to one’s team) is extremely difficult and they gave the Wolves trouble without him. With him, I think it goes 7.
Druuu – without a doubt Jimmy didn’t show up in the last 2 games. And he deserves all the criticism.
But Warriors don’t win a playoff series without Jimmy Butler this season. And he is an asset next season. Even if he’s overpaid.
Warriors get an “A+” for the deal because they got better and gave up very little. Reilly gets a “D”.
Jimmy gets an “A” for his regular season with the W’s.
He gets an “A” for the Houston series
He gets a “D-“ for the Minnesota series.
As far as I can see on HRs. Most Warriors fans are the ONLY ones who talk about championships. Like you just did. Me personally I enjoy the playoffs for every team. And root for my team.
Riley fleeced the Warriors…
This is the best they get of Jimmy…
He’s got worse every year…
The Warriors fleeced Pat Riley.
Warriors made it to the final four in the west, which is a blood bath according to some.
The heat have Andrew Wiggins for two more years lol and the 20th pick in the draft. Who fleeced who?
The next 2 years are much brighter for the heat…
The Warriors have Curry…
Unless he is a nothing burger in history… making the the final 8 shouldn’t be a shocker…
What’s so bright in Miami the next two seasons ? Overpaying Herro with an extension this off season? The Warriors 20th pick in this draft? The lottery next off season?
Shouldn’t be a shocker? You said they wouldn’t make the playoffs?
It’s a shocker to me. That’s for sure. They were a .500 team on the eve of the trading deadline lol.
Your comments are not derived from honesty or integrity. Steph Curry‘s play in history has nothing to do with his performance at 37 years old.
You’re like the guys who watch LeBron at 40 and say he’s not in the goat conversation. Makes zero sense.
But it’s a waste of time explaining these things to you because I think you’re going to have your dishonest mindset no matter what I write. You just come back with something else from the dumpster bin.
I think I will just use one word replies to your nonsense from here on out.
Trade Green and TJD to heat for Wiggins. Warriors could then have Wiggins play defense and score alittle. Take MLE and sign a big rebounding Center. Warriors starting lineup would be Curry, Podz, Butler, Wiggins, and big center. Now just to get the heat to take Green.
It seems to me Butler made it further in the playoffs without Riley than the Heat did without Butler.
On Steph’s coat tails…
Then it fell apart without a hall of famer…
Steph is one of those talents where if they don’t make the finals the front office has made massive mistakes… Even this late into his career because of the shooting…
Given Draymond and Butler extensions are massive mistakes…
We all know how it was going if not for Stephs hamstring. So its more Wolves – 1 Stephs hamstring – 0
they lose in 6 with Curry
Seems wrong.
Wolves are pretty good. They’re long, athletic and they caught fire from three point land which bodes well for the next round if they can keep it up. Go wolves.
They sweep in 4 with Curry.
Andrew Wiggins or Harrison Barnes wouldn’t let this happen…. Playoff who?
Warriors have their own Andrew Wiggins right now. His name is Moses Moody.
Kevin Durant
Andrew Wiggins
Harrison Barnes
Jimmy Butler
Butler has a long way to go
Their best SF’s recently
Durant plays a different position. The Warriors weren’t going anywhere with Wiggins. Barnes had a young Thompson and Curry.
What a joke! Butler is the very reason we all got to watch 12 playoff games this season! None of the other guys were in the playoff this season.
They got options to push all in a little more. Package moody, kuminga sign and trade with like looney and get something decent that helps. Next year should be fun for them. They just need some good health luck which is hard with the guys at there age. Fingers crossed for them.
Kevin Durant also*
Jimmy is just another 3rd banana…
Man, you guys get to the comment section early. Gonna try abbreviate all this……
1) I’d be interested in bringing it all back except trading Kuminga for more outside shooting, like Cam Johnson
2) If Giannis is available, go ALL IN – ownership, coaching, players, fans, pets…EVERYONE
3) My first offer for Giannis would be: you Bucks people know you can’t move Lillard, even when he’s healthy, so why not retool with veterans and an up-and-coming versatile guard? JIMMY, DRAY, PODZ, two 1st as well as draft picks from a 3rd team (as well as outgoing players to match salaries) for GIANNIS and AJ GREEN. Perhaps that third team could be Brooklyn, and, while they wouldn’t get their dream player in GIANNIS, they’d get someone with similar pedigree – and still an unknown ceiling – in Kuminga and perhaps a pick or two going their way.
4) But if Giannis were to want to go to Dubs, I think Dray would have to go, the two young centers would have to assume bigger roles (on the cheap) – Post as an outside threat and Jackson Davis to focus on his defense and rebounding – and not get in Giannis’ way, I’d keep Moody and Buddy to go along with newly acquired Johnson as the primary wing defenders, and say thank you and goodbye to Looney and Payton II
PG-Curry
SG-Hield
SF-Johnson*
PF- Giannis*
C-Post
___________
AJ Green*, Moody, Jackson-Davis, Santos, (really murky after Santos…..don’t know all the cap/apron totals after this hypothetical trade), Spencer, Knox, draft, free agency, 2-ways
Andrew Wiggins wouldnt be playing after the fall Jimmy took… Just sayin
Wiggins for the next 2 years
Will be better than
Butler for the next 2 years…
I doubt it. I like Wiggins as a role player, but Jimmy is better defensively, and much better on offense. Wiggins cant dribble almost of the level of Buddy. Wiggins is a better 3pt shooter, and probably more durable moving forward, but he is inferior in almost every other way. The other thing is that Butler has a contract thats almost perfect 1 to 1 matching for KD/Giannis or any other vet max money wise. So if your going star hunting its Butler plus picks as the offer with a 3rd team taking Butler and sending added assets to the team sending GSW a bigger star.
I doubt your take…
Butler has shown hes been in decline for years…
Hence the Heat took a package with Wiggins…
Yet still better than Wiggins and requiring compensation despite the situation between the team and player at the time. Even with it being a s*** show it still required a pick and useful player.
Nah you’re dreaming…
Playoff Jimmy is only going to get worse…
The Warriors paid for fools gold, snake oil, empty calories…
Load management is the key. We won’t lack talent, but we will lack availability unless we take extra measures.
Gotta give Steph (38 years old), Jimmy (36), and Draymond (36) much more rest next season. Plan should be that each plays no more than 62 games.
The team should have enough talent to finish in the top 5 if we stay healthy. It’s about the playoffs.
Ridiculous. Steph Curry was amazing this year. I don’t know what you were watching.
Steph was amazing in the rocket series and he was an amazing game one and the first quarter of game two of this series.
And Jimmy Butler playing lackadaisical they say? Again ridiculous. How about giving credit to Minnesota’s defense?
Jimmy’s game is drive and kick to shooters or take the midrange himself.
Sometimes he gets all the way to the hole for a layup. But the wolves totally shut that down with their length. It’s just good coaching and good defense. Credit to Minnesota.
Havent you bad enough of aristotle and his rose colored glasses yet Gary? lol
Why do you have a problem with people being positive and optimistic? You need to work on that issue Sparky.
I am optimistic. I think the core will be back this coming season and perform at a high-level.
Gary, is it “ridiculous” to suggest we commit to rest guys in their later 30’s in a more disciplined way if we want post-season success?
The point is that with both Steph and Jimmy, we shouldn’t need to worry about making the playoffs. But we’ve got to figure out how to healthy when we get there.
Do you recall Kerr saying before this last season that they wouldn’t make the same mistake as the previous season, when Steph broke down? Kerr even said he wanted to impose a 32 minute per game restriction on Steph.
My eyes told me Jimmy was not the same these last few games. It was more than Minnesota’s defense. Jimmy wasn’t moving well, and you could see it with his defense as well. Maybe it was the glute injury, maybe it was flu-like symptoms, or maybe it was playing 35+ consecutive games. Probably all three.
Ari, Steph did not break down this year. He strained his hammy. That could happen on day 30 or day 130.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defense shut down Jimmy Butler. Drives to the hole we met with seven footers in the lane. With Steph out, there were no pure shooters to kick the ball too.
Plus, His mid range and Rudy Gobert’s presence do not make for a positive outcome for the warriors.
I am 100% against load management and taking days off on a regular basis. I think it’s ridiculous.
Look at Kawhi Leonard. They’ve been load managing him for six years on the clippers and this is the very first post season he’s been 100% effective .
You have to wonder why? I think it’s because he lost 30 pounds. Less strain on his knees. Didn’t you notice he was a lot thinner this playoff season?
Hard no on load management.
Hard yes on developing your bench and playing them more than eight or 10 minutes a game. So that means the old guys play 30 or 34 minutes a game.
> Steph did not break down this year. He strained his
> hammy. That could happen on day 30 or day 130.
Gary, that’s untrue. The (publicly available) medical diagnosis for Steph’s hamstring injury was “cumulative overuse”. There was no particular event responsible for it. It would have happened eventually, in any case. The only way to avoid it in the future is to avoid the overuse.
>>>>
Grade I strain of the left biceps femoris muscle with proximal hamstring tendon involvement, secondary to cumulative overuse.
ICD-10 Code: S76.012A — Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of posterior muscle group at thigh level, left thigh; initial encounter.
Mechanism
Gradual onset related to cumulative eccentric loading over recent high-volume training and gameplay. No acute inciting event reported.
>>>>
Love your research ari !!
Gary- thanks. The overuse report was what led me to post that Steph is going to be more carefully “load managed” next season.
There’s probably a timeline out there where Steph injures that hammy playing tennis in July and misses zero nba games smh
Yes. the hamstring injury was from overuse. They announced that.
It’s amazing to hear fans argue that older players don’t need extra rest. Seriously?
The team needs to get younger is obvious. The old vets ran out of gas in the 4th quarter because Kerr played too many vets. The young back ups played better than the vets.
“needs to get younger”
How young we talking? Podz, Moody, Kuminga, Santos, TJD and Post are all young.
letting go of Payton and Looney is getting younger. I would dangle TJD before the draft to see if they can move up to a late 1st round pick instead of a 2nd round pick.
Agreed, Payton and Looney were massive negatives this season. I can’t think of any 2 guys any NBA team should have traded at the deadline more than those 2.
Payton had the worst statistical postseason ever, and Kerr never benched him like he benched Moody and Kuminga.
Just watch Looney goes to a team like the Bucks and has a great year offensively.
I mean almost all veterans who escape Kerr and his horrible development and rotations usually do play better playing under not-Kerr. This isn’t new. Ty Jerome, Donte etc.
The problem with the Warriors is always Kerr.
@DaveyJ ,
I think Kerr will lobby hard to keep both Looney and GP2 if they’ll sign for the minimum. The problem is that if they’re on the roster, they’ll play over more deserving players.
If players are too old to play an 82 game season, then they need to retire. This mentality of load management is one of the MANY reasons that the NBA product is in decline.
Funny thing is Luka amd Jokic are young but get tired out there too.
Jokic plays major min. Luka is a one way player. He rests on defense…… I would never want Luka on my team. Jokic is a Goat
Jokic tires in the 4th quarter. They needs to rest him more not 40 plus minutes in the playoffs.
65 games at least
Based on Lacob’s comments, they’ll sign Kuminga. Then it will be up to Kerr to make it work, and I’m not sure he is capable. It’s going to be tough for them if they can’t get a playable 5 in the offseason (Post is more of a tall 3).
I’m sorry but Post is not a tall 3.
I wouldn’t put any credence into Joe Lacob‘s comments. That’s what he’s supposed to say. Anything less than that deuces is value on the open market.
Jonathan Kuminga is absolutely a sign and trade 100% gone out of here buh-bye.
We saw last night the Jonathan Kuminga that the Warriors needed and relied on and he was the Jonathan Kuminga I expected.
Decent game, got his points, but couldn’t bring his team to a victory.
Julius Randall carried his team to a victory. Derek White carried his team to a victory. Jonathan Kuminga ? Not so much.
Kerr needs to coach the team as if Curry is not playing. 2 different players he yelled at this season for not looking at Curry to give him the ball. The team needs to play without a Curry bail out. Last night was an example of them not being play makers. Kerr needs to design plays without Curry on the floor. You can’t design a team that ONLY plays around 1 player. Going to be a tough off season bringing in younger talent.
> Decent game, got his points, but couldn’t bring his
> team to a victory.
Is single-handedly winning a game against a superior team the requirement here? He’s 22 years old. IMO, he’s being evaluated as a 3rd offensive option that would be paid $30M less per year than Steph and Jimmy.
4 game average: 24.7 ppg, 31 mpg, 57% FG, 39% 3PT
Our best wing defender; only guy that could stay in front of Edwards
Next year will be his fifth year. Quit calling him a kid and using that as an excuse for his poor play.
I told you he’ll put up his 26 points and they’ll lose. Every basketball fan on the planet could see that was going to happen.
But I’ll bet you everything in my portfolio that if Steph played and Jonathan Kuminga sat and Steph had 26 points the Warriors would’ve won.
One guy knows how to play the game. The other guy has no clue and will be on the first bus out of town this summer.
Then we’ll compare notes five years from now and you’ll wonder what happened to JK?
Most of you will say he didn’t get an opportunity. He went to the wrong team.., signed only for the money instead of fit and all the rest of that garbage.
Gary, You continue to insist on comparing 22 year old Kuminga to Steph Curry. Every one of your posts does that. But that’s never been the discussion.
The question is whether JK is worth keeping or not as a third scorer, defender, and a member of a young core that will be needed when Steph, Jimmy and Draymond are gone forever in 24 months.
Yeah that’s brilliant comparing a kid his own coach doesn’t trust. To Warriors who have been there done that… wise up lol
@GaryRedSoxxWarriors
Luke Adams has been talking since November about how hard it will be to trade Kuminga because of the NBA rules. In a sign and trade for a rookie extension the team signing the player can only take half the value back.
That means if Kuminga signs for $25 million the W’s can only get a $15 million player (or players) in return. I don’t think Joe Lakob would ever do that. Lakob would want an impact player for Kuminga.
Most likely is W’s sign Kuminga to a 4 year deal this summer market value and see if he fits next season. If not they can trade him after for his full value.
EasyMoney that makes a lot of sense.
Yeah I’ve heard that and I’m just hoping there can be a way Dunleavy can figure out how to trade JK and Moody and maybe someone else away and get a better player. Warriors need another difference maker at the four or five. Another one on the wing too lol a younger guy. Kind of like Kuminga lol but someone who has figured it out by his fifth year. May be a pure shooter?
But yes, your point is well taken and perhaps that’s the scenario that plays out.
So Kuminga stays 1 year after signing a new deal and hopefully he puts it together in year five. If not then you consider trading his 30 million out for a different 30 million in.
Gary, I’m here to give you some (for you) good news that they don’t have to keep Kuminga for 1 year.
GSW only has to keep him for 6 months before they can trade him for full value. (So they can trade him by the trade deadline.)
Aristotle.
You also need a veteran C starter. Vucevic would be good
Vucevic is just a big body he is more of a back up center.
I think they need to add another ball handler in the draft. They cannot rely on Steph at age 37-38 to handle the duties. If they truly believe in Post, then adding a guy who can shoot and has handles would be beneficial to this team next year. MDJ needs to work a miracle.
Exactly a ball handler that can drive to the basket to create offense.
I’m just piggybacking off your comment from a few days ago lol. So many wasted roster spots on this team. They would have been MUCH better not trading for Butler. I know you guys got to the 2nd round but at what cost? That draft pick that is sent to Miami is currently at 20 and would have fetched you a nice draft pick or possible trade asset on draft night.
raz, rookies take 2-3 years to have an impact, especially in the playoffs. Esp at pick #20 !!
Trading for Jimmy was absolutely the right thing to do.
Warriors played at a high level. The beat the number 2 seed. They beat the Timberwolves in game one.
The number 20 pick going into next season means nothing to a team of Curry Greymond Wiggins. Zilch.
Final four in the west.., that’s huge. Lakers Clippers grizzlies Mavericks Suns can’t say that.
Not a lot of ball handlers at #41 in the draft. Reuniting with Melton might be a solution.
Have Melton take Payton place. At #41 there are a few big centers that look like they will drop down. AS for PG they can be found either overseas or undrafted. Just need a ball handler that can drive to the basket.
@arc Have you seen who ESPN has the Warriors getting at #41. He might have a ready made nickname, “The Barbarian”.
I saw that it would be a good choice. Looney and TJD is too small and Post looks like a back up center at this point not a strating center unless he can improve on defense and rebounding.
I doubt they roll the dice on Melton again. Great fit, but a chronically injured player.
The only way to get a quality C that can help in the next 2 seasons is to trade Kuminga. That will surely be considered.
IMO, this last series showed that the sun has set on GP2. He still complements Steph well offensively, but otherwise he’s unplayable.
Taking a look at tankathon and at 20 they had some guys that would have helped the Warriors. For the sake of argument, let’s say they lost in the 1st round against Houston. That pick would have been around 15-18. Guys like Egor Demin who is 6’9 and can handle the ball. Shooting is a little suspect but great size and feel for the game. Another guy is Carter Bryant who is 6’8 but he’s been showing up at the combine for his athleticism and they like his potential at 3 and D. Will Riley would be good as well, 6’8 G/F who can shoot and has nice playmaking skills but needs to be coached up. Any one of these guys would have been helpful and that $60M deal for Butler is going to cripple them next year. Nobody will touch that contract unless GSW attached an unprotected pick post Curry years, which I doubt is the direction MDJ wants to go.
I can’t argue that point. There is a few big centers that will be around with the 2nd pick. looks like big wings will be who people will be drafting in the 1st round. What the warriors need is a big body that can’t be pushed around and guard the rim. Doesn’t need the offense but the defense and setting screens.
Sorry. But you are missing the point. Without Jimmy, they don’t make the playin. Would the Warriors have fallen so far that they could land an impact player in draft? Someone who is not a couple of years away from being a starter. Probably not.
I get it, but they mortgaged the future by acquiring this clown. Would have been better off just punting the season and restarting this summer.
raz427 , this is one of your rare bad takes, as it doesn’t consider the 2 year planning horizon set by Curry’s availability.
Even if I were to agree with you that Butler won’t be worth his contract next year (which I don’t), the Warriors FO had concluded that there was nobody available after the lottery that was ready to contribute at the NBA level in the next couple of years.
Fair enough. Not offended at anyone disagreeing with me. We shall see what MDJ has up his sleeve to remain competitive and also find more support for Curry.
Butler has value even if the warriors wanted to trade him. The Rocket series took a big toll on the warriors. Kerrmismanaged the minutes by over playing the old players and burned them out. The older players looked very tired in the 4th quarter against the wolves. Kerr needs to trust his young players.
Demin is a top 10 pick. At worst a lottery pick. He shouldn’t get by Blazers, Suns, Heat assuming Queen is Gone. Demin just impressed big time at Combine. Imo he is top 10.
Spoken like a true Bulls fan …….
Warriors are not in this series without Jimmy. He more than anyone is responsible for Warriors rebirth this year. There isn’t a player on the Bulls who is half the player Jimmy is ……
????? What does the Bulls have to do with this? I feel like you are just trying to make it personal yet again.
Timberwolves are the better team. Not that deep. Jimmy Butler is old and inconsistent. He is not playoff Jimmy anymore, just a guy who can complement an offense and draw fouls. Heat were right not to give him big money. Again, not that deep.
I’m sure it was exciting to watch gsw beat up on an inexperienced Houston squad but these guys were never winning anything real. Those days are over and the sooner management understands that the better…
I think he’s playoff Jimmy still it’s just that the wolves had an excellent game plan to slow him down.
Look how long they are. Their center is 7+ feet, their power forward is 6-8 or 6-9 and a bruiser underneath, and McDaniels, the small forward is 6-9 or so. That’s long and that stops Jimmy when he goes to the hole among the trees.
Also Stops his mid range shot and when he kicks to a shooter, there’s no shooters lol.
If buddy gets hot fine they can win but Moody Podski Santos Greymond Payton are not pure shooters.
When Curry’s out there everything clicks. Spacing happens.
Again, major kudos to the wolves and their defensive game plan. Big time credit for what they accomplished in this series.
@GaryRedSoxxWarriors, please. Butler didn’t show up the last 2 games and that is how he is going to be remembered. Watch the media today. Brutal.
Why aren’t u holding Butler accountable like we do all superstars? And like Jimmy told us to do on national media over and over. Talk the talk and you better walk the walk.
Jimmy is making $60 million. Top 7 in the league. He didn’t earn it. We all saw with our own eyes that he didn’t have it. Like a $20 million guy.
Credit to Minnesota. But let’s not pretend how much Jimmy let us down. He is a $60M Robin.
“Those days” are not over. Final four in the blood bath of the west? Some pretty stacked teams didn’t make it this far. Clippers grizzlies Suns Mavericks all were preseason playoff teams.
Final 4 standing are the Nuggets OKC wolves and Warriors. Not too shabby.
That’s one way to look at it, but are warriors better than the clippers? Better than the Lakers? They got a lucky first round match up. Draw whatever conclusions you want from that, we’ll never know. This team was not winning a title this year and they won’t next year as currently constructed. Curry injuries will be more and more often. That’s life.
Lil D, That’s a hard pill for proud warrior fans to swallow but it’s the truth. I don’t like saying it, but you’re right.
Both OKC and Nuggets are the best teams in the WC. Team who got the lucky draw is the wolves. They beat 2 old teams with flaws. Clippers are just like Lakers and GSW needing a old player to win. I still believe OKC will pull it out of the west.
Wolves are going to have a tough time against OKC. They are going against a more young athletic team. The warriors young back ups played better than the old starters. There is the problem Kerr being stubborn and not letting the young players play instead old vets that get tired after the first half.
Trade Kum Buckets as fast as possible as they’ve essentially ruined him and the last few games rejuvenated his value. Let Looney go, he’s not even a warm body on the court anymore. Better off just having 4 out there than him. I could see a scenario where the Warriors make a run for Giannis, Butler, Kum and picks
He’s 22, he hasn’t been ruined, he literally has called out the team for not developing him in the same way they did with Podz. He knows he is getting put into situations that will result in losses due to Kerr’s too-small roster and his love of playing five 6’6″ and under guys at once, leading to losses, leading to mismanagement of his development.
Been thinking now about your KD-Giannis idea, Davey J – WHY NOT try get them both? Suns wanted Jimmy; Dubs SEEMINGLY steal Jimmy from Suns, but it just turns out to be a 3+ month rental; KD concludes he’d rather play for Dubs than Suns next season; Dubs swap Jimmy for KD (would Suns say no deal unless Draymond comes over too?? Will KD come here if Dray is still around??? So many tantalizing ‘what if’s’!!) Let’s just say Jimmy and a 1st for KD is enough. Then you take Kuminga, Podz, Hield and TJD – to go along with another first – and switch them out for Giannis and AJ Green. Dubs may just need to address backup PG after the dust settles from this avalanche!
PG-DGreen (start him at the point with this group! On defense, he covers PF)
SG-Curry
SF-Durant
PF-Giannis
C-Post
____________
Moody, AGreen, Santos, Looney (on the cheap), Knox, Spencer, Rowe, 2-WAYS, DRAFT, FREE AGENCY
That would break the cap, my original trade idea framework that hasn’t been officially shot down as “functionally impossible” yet looks like:
Lakers get: Draymond (gets to play with his bestie Lebron)
Suns get: Jimmy (Suns get better match with Book+Beal)
Warriors get: Giannis and KD
Bucks get: Austin Reaves, Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski, Jackson-Davis, Post and picks
*Obviously this is a framework, there might be other players/money/picks/teams involved
The Warriors had a great run, but getting older and a last gasp with Butler? Making the semi-finals in the west was terrific, but any description of that as a “final four” is like, well, it’s reminiscent of the old communist era adage as put out by PRAVDA: “Glorious Russian racing team finished second in world competition; US team next to last.” Never mind that there were only two teams in the race. “Final four in the west.”? In the words of Nero Wolfe, “PFUI!”
Really not sure what the difference is between the final four in the west and the semifinals in the west?
You’re grasping a bit Gary and that is SO unlike you. There really is no difference between the terminology, it just smacks of attempts to justify a position, again something you just never do.
OK, fair enough.
I just didn’t understand your comment.
I didn’t think seeking clarification was a bad thing.., but you do you.
Actually, I think I understand it now.
If you say 6 in one hand, but I say it’s half a dozen, that’s wrong because half a dozen sounds like it’s more.
I really shouldn’t do that when I’m talking about the Warriors.
I should say 6 and not half a dozen?
OK, I’ll do better. Thanks for the exhortation and guidance.
I appreciate it because I need all the help I can get. I’m thankful you’re always here to point out a teaching moment for me.
Exhortation? Nawww, but I still enjoy what you write as you regularly rise above the mindlessness. Since we’re embracing pedantry, you should use “octothorpe” instead of hashtag. I’ll be watching to be sure. ;)
And I’m “here” about twice a month on average, “always” being a vast exaggeration.
You’re using too many words I have to look up…
The twice a month you’re on here you seem to pick on me quite a bit so that’s frequent enough for my sensitive soul.
But I appreciate the octo-something, I’m sure it will benefit me down the road. Thanks again.
Here’s the truth of it: Of all the regular commentators here you’re the only one I go out of my way to read. I’m not claiming you’re the new John Hillyer, or Bill Bryson senior. He’s one you oughta dig up when you want to read fine writing. But, you write well, thoughtfully, reasonably. If anything I have typed out here has come across as ragging you, I apologize; not my intent. But as we are in a shrill world where anything vaguely resembling disagreement comes across as an attack … well … Again, I apologize. Oh, and the Bill Bryson SR. Des Moines Register articles really are worth digging up. I’ll bet you a 2nd round draft pick you’ll love his style.
I love Bill Bryson. I am a travel guy and road trip guy so I love what I’ve seen from him so far. He probably writes on quite a few other subjects so I will check him out at your suggestion.
I’ll take your last comment at face value and move forward from here with your compliments as sincere.
I appreciate the kind words. That’s really what’s few and far between.
Hope you come here for the Conf finals and NBA finals. Should be some fascinating basketball ahead of us.
This is Bill Bryson Sr I’m talking about, sports writer who wrote for the relatively small town Des Moines, IA Register for 40+ years until he retired in 1978. Finding anything that far back might be a challenge, but pops definitely passed on the writing chops to Jr. I think there may be some quotes from Sr.’s articles in The Life And Times Of The Thunderbolt Kid. Okay, you’re on. I’ll check in and follow the Conf and finals witticisms and insanities here. Tip-o-the-cap!
Oops, I missed it. You even put “senior” in your original comment about him. Sorry about that.
I’ll look for him. Thanks for the tip.
@meadowlark said:
> The Warriors had a great run, but getting older and a last gasp with Butler?
Probably, but not necessarily, and we Dubs fans cling to that sliver of hope. Call it “denial” if you like. But we all recognize in our reasonable moments that Steph, Butler and Draymond will be a little less next season than this one. And, the season after that, still a little less.
IMO, Dubs fans aren’t as realistic about future availability of these 3 players. Even with the Steph injury for the last playoff series, we were extremely lucky this season. Consider that:
* Butler, prior to this season, hasn’t played over 65 games for 8 years. He averaged 57 per year in Miami, and missed multiple playoff series.
* Draymond averaged 57 games over the previous 5 seasons
* Steph said in exit interview yesterday he expects reduced minutes next season
The FO has to be accounting for the likelihood declining performance and availability, so the rest of the roster must be strengthened.
Kerr is the problem, they are never going to get the most out of their talent with him at the helm. He cannot develop players, he doesn’t coach to win, he can’t control Draymond, he doesn’t make adjustments in-game, he ran the same starting lineup that didn’t work in the first game, then ran it 2 more times until the series was over, all games GSW got destroyed in the 1st quarter. Fire Steve Kerr into the sun.
I would trade Podz and everyone not named Curry under 6’6″. Tall Guards are the future. SGA is 6’6″.
Legit question… In your opinion, who would be the perfect coach for the Warriors as they’re currently constructed? I’d be interested in hearing two answers… One, guys who are actually gettable here and now, the other, just pick from any coach in history.
Loaded question, because they are only constructed so Kerr can play as many under 6’5″ guys as possible – they are constructed poorly and need to be totally torn down so Steph is the only under 6’6″ guy on the roster, BUT:
1. Andre Iguodala.
2. Anyone. Kerr has zero NBA coaching experience without Curry. Anyone who could do the same. Kerr isn’t a genius, look at what he did on the Suns. If he was, he would have had them cooking. This is 3 years in a row of underperforming under Kerr due to Kerr’s idiotic rotation use.
Anyone you say? Go free Doc Rivers from Milwaukee then. Let me know how that turns out.
> This is 3 years in a row of underperforming under
> Kerr due to Kerr’s idiotic rotation use.
That’s absolutely true, but there is more.
The other part is Kerr’s inability to adapt his offense to the players he has. We don’t have the personnel for the read-and-react, motion offense. It’s as simple as that.
Steph and Jimmy are 2 great offensive weapons, so any offense will have some success, but the offense doesn’t fit the rest of the players.
Other than Steph, we have no motion shooters (except, possibly, Buddy), nor do we have good 3-point shooting. And it’s not an offense quickly grasped by most young, inexperienced players. Payton and Looney, and to a lesser extent, Buddy, are on the team because they fit in this system. They’d have much less value elsewhere.
@aristotle well I am of the mindset that Curry actually won’t retire anytime soon, and will play deep into his 40s, as he is literally still the #1 show in the league and too good at the game itself. But mostly due to Curry being Him and the League head office knowing it, I can see age 47 Curry playing 10-15 MPG as a backup PG as he goes after the all-time records and still sells out most places the Warriors play – that’s what the NBA league front office is likely picturing too.
Wemby might be next, but he has never played a meaningful game in the league yet. We have no “from way downtown- BANG” from him yet. Maybe we never will if the Spurs blow building the team or he gets hurt etc? Curry has to stick around until the next big ethereal megastar officially arrives, I believe the league won’t let him retire until they know they have the next big star.
I’m sure the FO is evaluating future coaching candidates because Kerr won’t be around more than 24 more months. The same folks spent two years learning and researching to put together the Valkyries’ FO and coaching team.
It’ll be with a clean slate. I’d expect a dynamic young coach with innovative ideas fitting the modern NBA, as we’ve seen with Mark Dagnault in OKC. (Length and athleticism, defending the point line, etc). Becasue the old Dubs players, including Steph, will be gone, the new coach and FO can
As a NYK fan, I accepted that the KAT trade was something they had to do, but never felt that MIN got the raw end of that deal. I believe that KAT is a more talented, and better overall, player than Randle. But last night was another demonstration that Randle provides some invaluable things that KAT does not, and the NYK miss those, while MIN is benefitting from them.
Overall, MIN looks like a team with potential well beyond what they showed in this series. Physically impressive for sure. Plus, they can combine that with real fire at times (Randle helps with that). Their biggest problem is they’re systemically sloppy (Randle aggrevates that). Still, 8-2 in the playoffs is about as good as it gets. Clean up the turnovers, and I they can give either OKC or DEN a run for their money.
Both teams did well in the trade. Randle just took longer to fit. But I get the feeling TWolves don’t want Randle. Especially with McDaniels looking good now. AE wants KD. I think they use Randle to try and get him. Minny has #17 and #31 picks in draft. Very desirable picks for Phoenix.
Warriors had to do something…
But to overpay for an ageing and often injured star wasn’t a good idea…
There’s no easy way out of this… Its like the KG Nets… Looked good on paper to a few, but to most it was obvious…
Nonsense.
Nothing but sense…
Warriors are a different team with Jimmy. The record with him proves it. With the right additions or trades. They can be better. Therefore compete for West. I just don’t see contender status yet. I had Minny winning even with Curry playing. Definitely could have gone 7 though.
Of course the biggest decision is. What will they do with Kuminga. They already blew it with Wiseman. And the Moody pick is still not settled. Kuminga can bring back good value. So I hope they do him right.
“Steve Kerr reportedly had an issue with Jonathan Kuminga looking off Steph Curry at times during games, per @loganmmurdock
“Despite his talent, Kuminga’s propensity to look for his shot at the expense of the flow of Golden State’s offense has irked the coaching staff. During a late-season game against the Blazers, team sources say Kerr was incensed after several instances in which Kuminga looked off Curry to create his own offense. Kuminga subsequently received DNPs in the Warriors’ regular-season finale against the Clippers and then again in their play-in matchup against the Grizzlies. By the start of the playoffs, many within the organization wondered whether Kuminga, who is eligible for an extension, had played his last game as a Warrior.”
I have been saying this for years now. And most of the Warriors clan here. Is all about blaming the player. And at the same time. Not taking responsibility for a bad draft. You failed Wiseman. You are failing Kuminga. Moody hasn’t stepped in. So its a failed draft. You can’t have it both ways.
If you believe this post. I tend to believe it. It’s clear the development of Kuminga has not gone well. The kid is facing RFA. So he is going to try to look out for himself at this point. It’s called the business of the NBA. You had 3-4 yrs to have him in a place. Where he can fit in. And grow as a part of this team. Instead it’s come down to the coach showing him up still. Clearly they are not in a good place. I’d say be thankful he showed up in playoffs. And just hope someone signs him. Then do a sign-n-trade. I love that he can learn from Jimmy. But at this point. I don’t think it’s viable. Best thing for team is to move him. Warriors can get value for him.
I don’t see why people are complaining about Butler when he was playing hurt through out the playoffs. Kerr designe dthe team around Curry. All the offensive plays are designed to give Curry the ball. That has always been Kerr’s plans. You can’t blame Butler because he is not the same player. Butler was double teamed against the wolves. He was the focus point of wolves defense because they knew nobody else would deliver. Two different players were chewed out by Kerr because they didn’t pass the ball to Curry during the season. Kerr handicaped Kuminga by not allowing him to drive to the basket. AS good as Kerr can be at coaching he has a lot of flaws in his style and they reared its ugly head this series.
Most folks who complain about Jimmy. Don’t understand or know. What he does for a team. Real basketball fans love Jimmy.
Yeah but arc all that should have been settled yrs ago. Fact it’s still going on. Only means they have not gotten thru to JK. This is not about blame. Kuminga not working out is bad for player and team. Especially team since a full team this year. Curry, JK could have done well. Considering they made it to final 4 in the west.
Kerr is too tough on his young players is why they don’t get better. Any time Kuminga fails he gets sent to the bench while a player like Buddy or Green gets a pass for the same play. So now you have young players afraid to make a mistake and it gets into their head. I truly feel Kuminga would be a star under a different coach that allows him to play his game. Kerr was trying to have Butler be Curry in the series but he is not that type of player. Kerr has rode the Curry train too long and will not change.
I agree man and it’s what I have been saying for over a year now. Playing on the Warriors cause of their expectations to compete. It puts pressure on team and player. To develop them right. Just look at their picks. Wiseman, Poole gone. Trouble with JK and Moody. Not an easy thing to do lol. Getting Jimmy and having a chance to compete again. Imo is a big thing. With right trade for JK. They can be a contender.
All rumors coming out now is he will be traded.
link to hoopshype.com
“I get very upset when I read all this crap on the internet, these comments by people, you know, ‘This guy’s crap. That guy’s crap. The drafts were terrible.’ Bull—t!”
They’re talking about you Davey J.
link to hoopshype.com
Warriors, Jonathan Kuminga expected to explore sign-and-trade scenarios….
Looks like it’s happening ……
50/50 chance he is back on the team. MDJ is very crafty at trades so could they work out a Thompson like trade with multiple teams. There are teams needing to shed multiple late 1st round picks. looking out how Brooklyn has 4 picks and 2 late draft picks they are the team most likley to get Kuminga.
I think they’re going to look at everything.
One of them definitely will be avoiding paying JK 30+ million dollars a year that’s for sure. And haven’t we been saying that for two years? Well, some of us lol
They should do like the Lakers did and announce any team offering him a contract they will wait until the last moment to match it. That would force a team like the Nets into a sign and trade.
My official wish list:
Replace free agent Payton with free agent Melton
Replace free agent Looney with free agent Lopez
Trade Buddy, Moody, Podz and Spencer for 4 players taller than 6’6″
Trade Post and TJD for 2 better C/PF bigs who play defense/get rebounds/block the lane
Be open to trading Jimmy and Draymond if it gets us KD or Giannis or another duo that is an upgrade over Jim/Dray that will work with Steph
Rest of roster: throw ins to salary match or hold
Also I will throw yall this bone:
Isn’t it possible now to just ask Ai “Who are the 4-6 best players who are feasible offseason acquisitions to play alongside Steph Curry age 37 season” or “what moves will build the strongest roster with most potential to win alongside Steph Curry age 37 season”, and just make those moves? If it’s not available yet, won’t it happen soon? Won’t all front office and scouting jobs be done via Ai very soon?
Holy crap that’s alot of transactions. You want to change the team completely. I would try to resign Kuminga, then Looney and then Payton if possible. Maybe a sign and trade Kuminga and Butler to Phoenix for Durant. I still believe all they need is a veteran C still. Draft a young PG and C.
Moody needs to take another step forward