Golden State Warriors
After a 15-50 record last season due to numerous injuries, the Golden State Warriors had their sights set on a 2020-21 season with Steph, Klay and Draymond fully healthy and ready to bring Golden State back to the top of the NBA. Unfortunately, Klay Thompson will not be a part of the equation again for the Warriors as he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon that will force him to miss his second full season.
Of course, Thompson’s injury happened right before the 2020 NBA Draft and free agency, leaving Warriors’ management scrambling for answers and trying to keep this team as a legit contender in the Western Conference. Ultimately, the Warriors did the best they could trying to replicate and replace Klay’s production for the upcoming season and as a result, made some of the best moves this offseason, highlighted by one trade in particular.
After it was declared that Thompson was to miss the entire 2020-21 NBA season, the Warriors got on the phone with numerous teams to see who they could bring in with their $17.2M trade exception stemming from the Andre Iguodala trade with Memphis last season. The Warriors were able to strike a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder and acquired Kelly Oubre Jr., a fantastic 3-and-D player, for a protected 2021 first-round pick. If the Warriors finish between 21-30 in the league standings next season, they will convey this first-round pick to the Thunder, otherwise, they will send over two second-round picks instead.
What a fantastic deal on the Warriors’ side of things. Ownership and management have made it clear they are willing to spend millions of dollars to keep this team as a legit threat in the Western Conference and with expectations being that they will make the playoffs, it is likely that when all is said and done, they will have acquired Kelly Oubre Jr. for two second-round picks. With the limited cap room that the Warriors had this offseason, they went out and signed guard Brad Wanamaker and wing Kent Bazemore to minimum contracts, which should provide a great sense of two-way play for Golden State and their second-unit. Not to mention, they drafted the best center prospect in years, in James Wiseman, No. 2 overall and have high expectations on his future.
Bob Myers and the entire Warriors front office did the best they could have done in repairing the hole Klay Thompson leaves this roster with and looking at their roster from top to bottom, it is clearly a threat in the Western Conference. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins on the wing gives the Warriors not only two athletic scoring threats, but two great defensive players as well, which will let Steph be Steph offensively. The Warriors will definitely miss Klay Thompson this upcoming season, but are in a great position to contend in the Western Conference if everyone else can all stay healthy.
