Throughout the mid and late 2010s, the Golden State Warriors built up a dynasty that nearly all of existence outside of the Bay Area hated.
But, with the start of the new decade of basketball, the Dubs haven’t been at their peak due to countless player departures and injuries.
After an abysmal 15-50 record for the shortened 2019-2020 season, the Warriors run seemed to be cut short. New title contenders arose in SoCal, and powerhouses were created in Milwaukee, Boston, and Houston.
Despite their previously unattainable echelon over the rest of the basketball and sports world, the Dubs seem destined to fall back into the middle of the playoff race, returning to their original form as the “We Believe” team.
Yet, something might have saved them. The garbage fire of a team was able to attain a level so low, that they will likely get the number first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Whether they take Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, or Lamelo Ball, the Warriors will likely attain elite status once again as Steph, Klay, and Draymond seem to be ready for the near future.
With the acquisition of Andrew Wiggins, a player that many believe is between the likes of Harrison Barnes and Kevin Durant in terms of skill, the Warriors will be in the running for years to come with a formidable big four.
Their draft pick may actually be more valuable if they don’t use it as many believe that the Warriors will be able to trade their consensus top five pick along with Wiggins and one or two role players to obtain a player such as Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021. Yes, you heard me. In what may be seen as a Durant-esque move, Giannis may be able to sign with the Warriors if his current team, the Milwaukee Bucks, don’t perform at the level they are expected to.
If Giannis decides to opt out of a possible $253 million contract over the span of five years, the Warriors will have to clear much of their roster to sign the likely two time MVP, similar to what they had to do when signing Durant.
Many believe Giannis will stay with the Bucks, however, as they seem to be a favorite to reach the finals in the East this year. With the pool of 2020 free agents looking dry, we can assume that the Warriors will stick with their championship caliber squad. Despite having to develop a star rookie, the Warriors are primed to make a deep playoff run as Wiggins was given a dozen games to warm up to the system.
Although many may believe that the Warriors will have bad chemistry entering the next season due to their inability to play in the 2019-2020 season’s return, it is key to remember the level of dominance they showed prior to having KD and a quote unquote “Superteam”.
Another important factor will be the team’s ability to practice together. While NBA games and practices occur in Orlando, the Warriors will likely host their own practices in San Francisco to get accustomed to their new unit and continue developing young additions that will serve vital in a deep playoff push.
With increased rest, the Dubs will also be able to recover from the strain of going to 5 straight finals. Playing more than a full season’s worth of playoff games over the last half-decade, the rest for Steph, Klay, and Draymond will prove vital in the team’s energy and pacing next season. While other contenders would have had to play in the restarted season, the Dubs have been given the rare chance to have the most rest in the league which is sure to benefit them in future years.
It is clear that the new look Warriors will have nowhere near the same amount of star power as the KD Warriors, but relying on a solid bench and the forgotten mantra, “Strength in Numbers,” will help propel the Warriors to win as they did in 2015.
Many have come to the conclusion that powerhouses such as the Lakers, Clippers, and Rockets will run the West for the foreseeable future. However, let’s not forget the team that started all this craze in 2014, the team that was built on 3 underrated all-stars and had a supporting cast stretching 10 rows deep, the Golden State Warriors.