Last season played as a twist of fate for the Golden State Warriors. Golden State lost to the Sacramento Kings in the Play-In tournament despite blowing them out of the water in Game 7 of the opening playoff round the year prior. Losing Klay Thompson doesn’t mean the Warriors regressed. Actually, it’s arguable they improved upon adding multiple role players. But are such incremental upgrades enough? Losing Klay Thompson hit the hearts of Warriors fans and the team itself, but the move made sense.
Both parties couldn’t agree on a contract, and the Warriors expected too much of a past-his-prime player coming off two consecutive season-ending injuries. However, although it may benefit the Warriors in the long run, the more the team changes their core, the less reason Stephen Curry will need to stay. Is your house really a home if you don’t recognize it? Conversely, the additions of Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton make for slight improvements in every department, but the team desperately requires a second star. Jonathan Kuminga isn’t ready for such a role.
Moreover, Draymond Green is aging out of his prime, if not already gone from it, and it’s unclear if his style of play will grow like wine or depreciate like milk in time. Maybe Green acts accordingly and refrains from touching others, but that’s a big ask for a player who hasn’t learned his lesson. How Green communicates his feelings for last season makes it more plausible that he’ll gain another suspension rather than stay in the NBA’s good graces.
