The Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals, winning their fourth title in the last eight seasons. After a two-year hiatus, in which they missed the postseason twice and added some high-upside young talent to the mix, Golden State seems ready to continue their dynasty.
One of the things that Golden State benefited from earlier in their dynasty was the salary cap skyrocketing after the league signed a new TV. That enabled a 73-win Warriors team to sign Kevin Durant away from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Durant in the mix, Golden State won two more titles. Their three-peat fell just short as the team was ravaged by injuries in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors in 2019. Both Durant and Klay Thompson suffered serious injuries that kept them sidelined the next season. In Thompson’s case, he didn’t return to the court until this season, as he missed two campaigns.
Could we see something similar this offseason? Durant has requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets and since leaving the Warriors he hasn’t found anywhere near the same level of success. He teamed up with Kyrie Irving the offseason that he was injured and since then they have combined to win one playoff series even with a cameo appearance from James Harden mixed in.
The Warriors have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Durant as they have a package that could certainly intrigue the Nets. However, general manager Bob Myers sounds happy with the roster that the team has and wants to see them back on the court together.
“I like our team and where it’s at,” Myers told NBA.com. “I want to give the guys a chance to do it again.”
A few pieces from their rotation have departed as Otto Porter Jr. signed a deal with the Toronto Raptors and Gary Payton II signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. Youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody could assume their spots in the rotation and the team is hopeful that James Wiseman can make an impact at the center spot as well.
“It’s a good group. We’re lucky. It’ll be fun to see,” Myers said. “We were really hunting last year. Now I guess we’re back to being the hunted, which I didn’t think we’d be. We’ll see. I think we can handle it.”
It will certainly be a different mindset during the 2022-23 season than it was during 2021-22. But, it isn’t anything new for the Warriors, as they have already spent plenty of time as the team being hunted by the rest of the league looking to knock them off their pedestal.
Latest NBA News & Trade Rumors: Golden State Warriors & Brooklyn Nets
- Wiggins or Poole: If Warriors Had To Pick, Who Stays?
- Six NBA Observations On Top Prospect Summer League Flashes
- 3 Potential Andrew Wiggins Suitors To Monitor Long-Term
- NBA Trade Rumors Predictions: Durant, Mitchell, Poeltl, Jazz, More
- 3 Potential Jordan Poole Suitors To Monitor Long-Term
- Golden State Warriors Trading For Kevin Durant ‘Worth Discussion’
For the latest news and trade rumors surrounding the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and from around the NBA, check out our feed.
