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The 2024-25 NBA season is right here! We’re breaking down the most important questions, best- and worst-case situations, and fantasy outlooks for all 30 groups. Get pleasure from!
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
2023-24 end
Offseason strikes
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Additions: Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, Lindy Waters III
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Subtractions: Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Dario Saric, Lester Quinones
The Huge Query: What do the post-Klay Warriors appear like?
Klay Thompson’s departure for the Dallas Mavericks ended one of the vital profitable partnerships in NBA historical past. The 34-year-old gained 4 titles alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced. The Golden State Warriors additionally let Chris Paul, 39, stroll in free company. They tried like hell to land one other large identify, however Paul George selected the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Utah Jazz opted to not commerce Lauri Markkanen.
So the Warriors leaned into their youth and flexibility. They retained homegrown commerce chips Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski, none of whom is the centerpiece of a deal on his personal. All three needs to be high quality gamers. Simply how good stays the query. None of them is older than 22.
Kuminga has probably the most potential. He’s a bouncy wing with an erratic soar shot. They have already got Andrew Wiggins, who matches an analogous description, no less than since his jumper returned to league common.
The Warriors additionally acquired Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton — three extra high quality gamers. Neither Hield nor Melton earned constant playoff minutes for the Sixers. Anderson gave the Minnesota Timberwolves inconsistent playoff time, too. They’re wonderful as regular-season innings eaters.
Discovering the suitable mixture of gamers to area round Curry might be a nightly recreation of roulette for head coach Steve Kerr. The Warriors wish to play quicker, and so they have the staff for it. However what are they getting recreation to recreation from this assortment of high quality gamers? Podziemski is likely to be probably the most reliable of the bunch, and he’s the least skilled. Kerr wants constant two-way play from no less than three of them an evening, but when one’s shot is off or one other shouldn’t be enjoying protection, he can be looking for solutions.
And that’s assuming Inexperienced can nonetheless be the spine of an elite protection at age 34. Golden State expects Inexperienced to lift everybody’s degree on protection the best way Curry does on offense. Now we have seen every be the sport’s finest in his component over time. And we simply noticed Curry elevate over everybody for a stretch of the Olympics. However Inexperienced has misplaced a step. Perhaps a step and a half. He missed 27 video games to harm and suspension final season and didn’t make an All-Defensive staff for the primary time since 2020. Will Inexperienced turn into extra erratic as each he and Golden State grapple with the truth that neither are at their finest?
They nonetheless have Kevon Looney and Trayce Jackson-Davis to lighten the load within the frontcourt, however Inexperienced’s potential to play small-ball middle on the highest degree was at all times what unlocked the very best of the Warriors.
Additionally they had Thompson, who in his prime was each a top-flight defender and among the finest shooters to ever dwell. Within the aftermath of his accidents he was not both, and that lowered their ceiling beneath title competition, save for the one playoff run by which Wiggins reworked right into a dependable second possibility.
A group of gamers can’t substitute what was misplaced with Thompson lately. The respect he commanded bent the ground in Curry’s favor. Because the Warriors carve out enjoying time for Kuminga and a middle to spell Inexperienced, how do they keep spacing for Curry? They’ll depend on a gaggle of gamers who’ve been both too younger or too one-dimensional to offer the constant two-way play mandatory.
In different phrases: Who do you count on to shut video games with Curry and Inexperienced? Not even Kerr is aware of.
Finest-case situation
If Wiggins reverts to kind from the 2021-22 marketing campaign, when he made his lone All-Star look; if Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis expedite their growth; if Anderson, Hield and Melton lengthen the rotation; and if Inexperienced can keep an elite degree of protection and stay accessible; then Curry ought to have sufficient round him to a) compete for a assured playoff seed out West and b) persuade the entrance workplace that they’re certainly one deadline deal away from a return to title competition.
If every little thing falls aside
If the other is true — if Wiggins can’t match the worth of his contract; if the youth motion shouldn’t be prepared for its subsequent step; if the Warriors can’t spherical out a dependable rotation; and if Inexperienced is just too previous or too turbulent to unlock Golden State’s finest potential lineup mixtures — then they are going to be no higher than they have been final season, competing for a play-in match bid, at risk of lacking the playoffs completely.
Fantasy spin
The Warriors have a number of late-rounders with breakout potential: Kuminga (ADP 92.8), Podziemski (ADP 117.0) and Jackson-Davis (ADP 126.5). Kuminga ought to see an uptick in factors, 3s and rebounds in a beginning and starring function with the Dubs.
In class leagues, I choose Podziemski over Kuminga relative to ADP. Podz is a plus-rebounder for his place, hits extra 3s and can generate extra dimes and steals than Kuminga. Whether or not Podz begins or not, he has a large function with the Warriors.
Jackson-Davis can be nice for FG% and blocks, however his minutes may fluctuate as Kerr settles in on a nine-man rotation. Search for a Inexperienced bounce-back marketing campaign (ADP 102) with Melton on sleeper watch. Do not hassle drafting Wiggins in fantasy. — Dan Titus
2024-25 schedule
Too many ifs; not sufficient positive issues past Curry. Take the beneath.
