NBA Swing: Can the Warriors Save Their Future?

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After a 24-point loss in the Western Conference 9/10 Play-In matchup that saw Klay Thompson score 0 points on 0-10 from the field, the Golden State Warriors are out of the playoffs and the dynasty is over. The trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green have more than likely played their last game together. With championship contention being the goal as long as Curry is around and the payroll not justifying the play, the Warriors have a lot of questions to answer this summer.

The Klay Thompson Situation

The biggest question the Warriors have to address is the future of Klay Thompson. Thompson is nowhere near the player he once was, having his worst season production-wise since the 2013-14 season. He shot the second-lowest percentage of his career from behind the arc (the lowest being only .2% less the season he returned from injury). There have been multiple games over the season where Klay has looked nothing like himself, with his future with the team being the main headline surrounding the team. Not agreeing on a new contract before the season, Klay is set to become an unrestricted free agent come July 1st.

Several teams have been linked to Thompson this season including the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. Klay grew up a Lakers fan with his father, Mychal Thompson playing with the team for several years. Orlando and Philly are both expected to have a lot of cap space and could offer Thompson a bigger contract than the Warriors while using him as a third option. Following the Warriors’ Play-In loss to the Kings, Thompson was asked about his future with the Warriors saying:

“To be honest with you, I haven’t really given it much thought because of what I previously just said about the season we had and how much commitment it takes to play the games that we did and give it our all.”

There is a possibility Thompson could re-sign with the team, but with the team in the luxury tax, it would be expected that he would take a pay cut. Thompson has previously said that he would love to be a Warrior for life, along with Curry and head coach Steve Kerr both saying they need Klay on the team but there would be a lot of change needed. He showed some improvement coming off the bench, averaging 19.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in comparison to the 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Rookie Brandon Podziemski has shown he could fit into the role Klay has played for years, shooting around 38.5% from beyond the arc. While this issue likely won’t be solved until July 1st, it will be one of the biggest storylines until then.

The “Two Timelines” Failure

A key part of the 2022 championships, Andrew Wiggins has not been the same player since then. He has slowly declined since then, missing over 40 games during the 2022-23 season (mostly due to off-the-court issues), and declined even further this season, dropping from 17.1 PPG to 13.2 PPG. In the first year of his four-year, $109 million contract, Wiggins is signed through the 2026-27 season with the final year being a player option. Moving Wiggins’ contract would not be easy, especially with the way he has played this season. While it’s possible that Wiggins could bounce back next season, it looks more like it could be the opposite.

When the Warriors decided to use two timelines, focusing on the future while still trying to remain a contender around the big three, there was some hope. 2020 #2 overall pick James Wiseman turned out to be a bust and the Warriors did not trade him before he lost his value. 2021 first-round pick Moses Moody has shown some promise but has not reached that star level the Warriors hoped for. Fellow 2021 first-round pick Jonathan Kuminga has blossomed into a young star in his third season but is not yet the superstar Steph Curry would need beside him to compete for a championship. Owed $13 million over the next two seasons, Kuminga could be moved as a piece in a trade, but there is no guarantee the Warriors could land a superstar to pair with Curry.

Of those still on the team, veteran point guard Chris Paul may be the easiest to move on from. The nearly 39-year-old guard was not a great fit with the team and is unlikely to be with the Warriors next season. If the Warriors trade CP3 or waive him before June 28th, his $30 million contract is not fully guaranteed.

The Hunt for Another Superstar

Just turning 36 years old, Stephen Curry is still in his prime, but there is no telling how much longer he’ll be in his prime. With two years left on his deal, the Warriors need to get another star around Curry to compete. While Curry has said before he would like to be a lifer with the Warriors, he has shown forestation at several points during the season. For Golden State, the hope is that a superstar or two grows frustrated following their playoff runs this postseason.

Numerous players in the postseason have unknown futures. Lakers superstar LeBron James will be a free agent this offseason and could be eliminated in the first round. With the Warriors set to be in the lottery for the draft and the team inquiring about James before the trade deadline, they could make a high-risk, high-reward draft pick in Bronny James to entice LeBron to join the Warriors. In Milwaukee, Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could be a superstar who grows frustrated after a rough season for the team and a potential early exit from the playoffs. The Clippers forward is another forward who could be on the move this offseason depending on the Clippers playoff run. Aside from those players, there are plenty of stars in the league that the Warriors could try to trade for to pair alongside Curry.

The clock is ticking for the Warriors. The team’s dynasty era appears to be over with the possibility of Klay Thompson leaving this season being high. Stephen Curry may only have a few years left in his prime and the organization owes it to Steph to keep them in contention. Now in their offseason, the Warriors will have one of their most hectic offseason in a long time, with the future of their organization on the line.