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Stephen A questions Warriors’ inability to pair second star with Steph initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors weren’t capable of land a big-name NBA superstar to pair with Steph Curry this offseason.
Golden State‘s quest for its high two offseason targets — Paul George and Lauri Markkanen — fell brief after George entered free company and landed in Philadelphia with the 76ers, whereas Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million contract to stay with the Utah Jazz.
However ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took an extra look and is questioning why the Warriors have not been capable of finding one other star to accompany Curry on the courtroom since Kevin Durant left following the 2018-19 NBA season.
“I am very concerned with delving a bit additional. Why could not they get Paul George? Why cannot they get one other celebrity to pair with Steph Curry? Particularly within the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s departure,” Smith mentioned Friday on “First Take.” “Possibly you did not really feel the necessity to have anyone, I get that half, as a result of Klay Thompson is Klay Thompson and Draymond [Green] is Draymond. However I am nonetheless trying on the group as a complete — particularly [Warriors coach] Steve Kerr — and I am saying, ‘How come we will not get this brother any extra assist?’
“We’re speaking a few Steph Curry that also appears like he is in his prime. Nonetheless the best shooter on the planet. Nonetheless good for 25 a sport. Nonetheless good for 40-percent shooting-plus from 3-point vary. Why the hell can we not get him [help]? One of many nicest guys on the planet. Teammates love him. Organizations love him. Town and space have deified him. Why within the hell are you able to not get someone value noting to come back play with this brother? You’ll assume individuals would clamor to take action. I do not know if that has been the case.”
Since Durant left the Bay for Brooklyn in 2019 (now in Phoenix with the Suns), the Warriors have eyed a number of high-caliber gamers who might assist preserve championship basketball in Golden State. Gamers equivalent to Brandon Ingram and Zach Lavine have been tied to the group for just a few years now, however nothing ever materialized.
Nonetheless, the Warriors — with out Durant — proved they won’t want one other star in 2022 after profitable their fourth NBA title in eight seasons. However with the franchise-altering departure of Klay Thompson this summer season, their offseason method was totally different.
For a lot of their partnership, Thompson was Curry’s righthand man and Golden State’s No. 2 scoring possibility. The Splash Bros broke information and terrified opposing defenses for greater than a decade.
Thompson’s void was speculated to be stuffed with George. It wasn’t. And earlier than the Markkanen plan fell aside, the Warriors made a few low-risk additions they hope will flip into excessive rewards, together with including De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson.
Curry and Inexperienced, alongside Golden State’s up-and-coming youth in Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, would possibly simply must show — once more — they will play high-level basketball and compete with the perfect with out any extra assist.
