Klay – Warriors Huddle

April 17, 2024 — No Comments

It’s Time

By: Matt Anderson

The Golden State Warriors have missed the playoffs three times in the last five years.

This year's team sealed that stat with a complete no-show in Sacramento last night. While the "vibes" may have been better, the fact that that 2023-2024 Warriors were a ten seed proved the adage that if you are standing still, you're moving backwards. The same is going to be true this offseason. Oklahoma City, Houston, and Memphis are all going to be better next season. Denver, Minnesota, Dallas, Phoenix, New Orleans, and the Clippers are not going anywhere. That's ten teams right there. We don't even have to mention the Kings (who just thumped us) or the Lakers, who might take a step back due to player movement/age but could be just as good next year. It also does not factor in the Spurs taking a giant leap after year 1 of the Victor Wembanyama experience.

Last night's flame out is just another in a season-long line of signals that a drastic change is necessary for this franchise (and which your humble scribe has pointed out many times now). Afterwards, Stephen Curry told The Ringer: "I want to win. Plain and simple. It's not my job to make all of those decisions, but it's my job to hold people accountable...." This is as close to acting like Lebron that Steph will ever get, and it is telling he's reached that point. Whatever team employs 30 should be challenging for a title, and if they aren't they are doing him a disservice. And Steph is telling Joe Lacob and Mike Dunlevy, Jr. that.

It is now the front office's job to respond to that message. There are only two responses that will be acceptable here. The first, and the one with a percentage chance that is infinitesimally small, would be to ship Steph to a contender and start a full-scale rebuild. I'll say it again for the people in the back: that is not happening. The other response will be to do whatever it takes to win another title with Stephen Curry. Not win another title with Steph and Klay. Not win another title with Steph and Dray. Not win another title with Steph and Wiggins. Not win another title with Steph and anyone. It is Steph and Steph alone that matters.

There have been two massive problems plaguing this team since 2022. The first is inconsistency. Practically every player not named Steph is a yo-yo player. Some nights they look like they are absolutely critical to the success of the team. The next, you wonder why they are even playing. For some of these players, that is just the consequence of being young and inexperienced in the NBA (e.g., Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski) . For others, it's the consequence of being old in the NBA (see, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Kevon Looney). Some, this inconsistency is because of their availability (like Draymond, or Gary Payton II). Others, it is baffling like Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody (though that is less on him and more on Steve Kerr).

The second problem is that there is no second. This last month of the season, Steph looked exhausted more times than he should. For the current iteration of this team, given the discussed inconsistencies, Steph, at 36 years old, has to carry a massive scoring and creating load. If this team is going to be successful in the near-term, they need to find a second player who can take the ball and make the offense go. This is obviously easier said than done, given the financial state of the team. And that is what is going to make this summer so difficult for the front office and Warriors fans.

Moves have to be made. And some of those moves are going to have to be painful. One of the most frustrating things about this past season was the feeling that if we could just get everyone playing at a B+ or better, this team would be great. But the sample size is large enough to see that most of our players cannot be a B+ or better every night. And that makes life exhausting for the only A+ on the roster. I love Klay Thompson. He is my favorite Warrior ever. But the team really needs to think long and hard about how much his dwindling talent and lack of ability to show up in the post season is worth. Draymond may be the heartbeat of the team, but Dunleavy needs to consider whether we want to keep playing with that fire or if we sell while he's sellable. GP2 is a great story, but is his unavailability a problem? Kuminga took a leap this year, and we need to figure out if that leap should be parlayed into someone who can contribute to a title right now.

All of this must be done with the backdrop of the new financial rules. Ducking the second apron is a must. Getting out of the tax would be phenomenal. But the over all goal has to be clear: these moves have been made to win a title.

Published by Matt Anderson in Uncategorized

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Stephen Curry

October 20, 2023 — 1 Comment

Season Preview: Three Players to Watch

By: Matt Anderson

We are days away from the start of the 2023-2024 Golden State Warriors season. The Dubs are, by most experts, a team that has a puncher's chance to win a title (at best). The Western Conference is talented and deep. The Warriors are going to hope that last year's malaise was an aberration caused by the chemistry shattering punch and that the offseason moves fix the vibes. Given the schedule, the team better hope that the road woes were a result of relying too much on youth and inexperience and not some new reality. If this team has another slow start, they could be looking at a hole that is too deep to climb out of.

Many outlets have their season previews. Here at The Warriors Huddle, we wanted to do one that does not tread the same path as the others. Instead of looking at this year's squad as a whole, we wanted to focus on three players to watch, using that as our frame to talk about this season's prospects. Without further ado, here's that list:

1. Klay Thompson - One of the core dynastic pieces is the only one left without a contract for next year. There was hope a few weeks ago that a deal would get done, and indeed, Klay gave an interview to The Athletic's Anthony Slater suggesting a new contract was not something that would be an issue. A few days ago, however, Klay posted an Instagram story set to Tupac's "Me Against the World." That was concerning, especially since it came on the heels of a Woj report that contract talks had stalled. While it may be true that Klay will not be a locker room malcontent if he does not enter the season with a new deal (and talks have seemed to stall in the last few days), that does not mean it won't have a negative impact on the team. Last season saw three phases of Klay: atrocious, amazing, then atrocious again. Many are chalking the atrocious stretches up to his lack of playing basketball in the offseason (came in rusty, ran out of gas). But, those people forget the other piece of that atrocious start. Does the name Charles Barkley ring a bell? What about Klay showing Devon Booker four fingers after getting roasted by Booker so bad it led to a Klay ejection? During that opening 3-7 stretch of the season last year, one of the problems was that Klay was playing for Klay. He was not playing within the offense and, instead, appeared to be trying to prove the haters that he was still Klay.

It will be interesting to see how Klay's motivation for getting a new contract presents itself. Will we see the Klay from the start of last year, trying to prove he was still KLAY, chucking shots, playing selfishly, and being an overall negative to the on-court product? Or, will he be motivated to show his value to the Warriors? Will he play within the offense, raise his defensive game, and generally be the overwhelming positive that he was December through March? If he's the latter, not only will he get the contract he wants (or close to it) from the Warriors, but the team will be very successful. If he's the latter, he might get the contract he wants (but from someone else) despite the fact that the team under achieves for the second straight year.

2. Andrew Wiggins - Listeners to the Huddle will not be new to the importance of Wiggins this year. Our esteemed host beat me to this take a few episodes back. But in the run-up to the season, not many people seem to be talking about Wiggins and his role on the team. He missed 37 games last year, and that two-way force was severely missed. Between injuries and his family issues, Wiggins never really had a chance to show that his 2022 playoff form was the new norm. And for the Warriors' sake, we have to hope it is. Wiggins' offensive role has always been fairly consistent: he doesn't need to be electric just steady. While people forget about it, there is little worry he can't continue that from the start this year. Instead, it is the defensive end where Wiggs will need to show that 2022 magic. The key to every Warriors championship has been the team's defense. Right now, it is hard to see how this team will reach that same defensive competency of the title teams.

Instead, it looks like this team will be the middle of the road defense it was last year. Yes, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney are about as good of a backline as you will find in the NBA. Where the Warriors have concerns is on the perimeter. Klay used to be the guy who could lock down the best perimeter player on the opposing team. Steph, while incredibly underrated as a defender, cannot be tasked with being the primary scorer and ball stopper. Chris Paul will be an improvement over the prior Number 3, but the 38 year old 6' guard has his limitations. The job of locking down the perimeter will be given to Wiggins, Gary Payton III, and Jonathan Kuminga. The team will need Wiggins to do what he did to Luka and Tatum back in May/June 2022 if it wants to have any semblance of a top-10 defense. Furthermore, if Wiggins can tap back into the rebounding that was so crucial in that run (especially on the offensive glass), the team will be poised for a much more successful campaign than last time out.

3. Moses Moody - Much has been made of Kuminga making a third-year leap, and the Huddle expects that he will. But overlooked is JK's draft mate: Moses Moody. In his first two years in the league, Moody has started the season as an afterthought/end of the bench guy. The man, however, stays ready. Whenever given the opportunity, he performs. He hits his shots, he defends, he plays solid basketball. As a result, by the end of each year, he makes prominent postseason contributions.

Right now, when everyone is healthy, Moody is probably the fifth guard in the rotation. So, again he is an afterthought. If he can do what he has done the last few years in seizing every opportunity, it could be invaluable to this team. In all likelihood, Steph, Klay, and CP3 will sit a not insignificant number of games. If Moody can be the Moody we have seen at the end of each year each time he has to step in for one of them, the team will survive their absences. Moses' career per 36 are 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. There was a player who was key to the Warriors' 2022 title whose per 36 were 13-9-2. Like Moody, he was a 36-37% three point shooter. He was also a stout defender. That man was, Otto Porter Jr. The Warriors really missed a player like that last year. And while Moody's rebounding so far has not been quite as good as OPJ's, it is very realistic to think Moody could take that role. At 6'6 with a 7'1 wingspan, Moody could be a solid defender of 2s, 3s, and 4s and a guy who hits the open three when passed the ball. If Moody can do that, this Warriors' team will be a tough one to beat on a night-to-night basis

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors, Klay, Klay Thompson, Moses Moody, Season Preview

September 28, 2023 — No Comments

Jrue to the Dubs?

By: Matt Anderson

The dust from yesterday's block busting, Woj bomb of Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks has not even settled yet, but the NBA coconut telegraph is already starting to speculate on what happens to Jrue Holiday. Holiday was a key piece of the deal for salary purposes, going to Portland, where his veteran presence has already been deemed surplus. It makes sense, the Blazers are looking to start fresh around the trio of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and number two pick Scoot Henderson. Holiday, who is set to make at least $36.8 million this coming season, would either disrupt the development of those three or provide a level of competency that would push Portland closer to the playoffs than the lottery (which is presumably where they are trying to be as part of the rebuild). Also, earlier this year, Holiday told Andre Iguodala's Point Forward Podcast that he was considering retirement after his contract expires in 2025. One has to imagine that means Holiday is in win-now mode, not help a(nother) franchise rebuild. As a result, the scuttlebutt is that the Blazers will be looking to offload Holiday to a contender.

Indeed, one prominent NBA writer has already speculated that the Warriors would (or should) be in the market for the 33 year-old defensive menace. In a vacuum, a trade for Holiday makes sense for the Dubs. They have the pieces to make it work in Chris Paul's $30.8 million and Jonathan Kuminga's $6.0 million. Holiday is five years younger, is an exponentially better defender, and is not the kind of player to ask a reporter if "[she] coaching." Holiday could slot into the second unit as an excellent offensive facilitator and lock down the best guards in the league. His two-way skills would be crucial on a nightly basis, especially in the playoffs. Golden State also would not have to worry about overburdening him on offense because the team could always pair him with Steph, Klay, or Wiggins. On paper, it seems like a great idea.

But in reality, it just does not seem to be in the Warriors' best interest. Part of the reason the team traded Jordan Poole for Chris Paul was financial: Paul's contract for next year is totally non-guaranteed until the end of June. Ducking the second apron and re-signing Klay are the team's top two off-court priorities between now and next summer, and having the flexibility to completely shed $30 million in salaries is a key piece of that. Holiday, on the other hand, has a player option for $39.4 million next summer. If the Dubs acquired him, then one of two things happens. One: he opts in because he played so poorly he can't get a better deal in a incredibly weak free agent class. In this scenario, the Dubs not only would probably not want him, it would probably foreclose any Klay contract (barring an incredibly steep discount or truly horrible season by Klay). Two: he opts out and the Warriors cannot afford to keep him (or are forced to choose between him and Klay). At least with CP3, given his age, there is a small chance that the team can waive the final year of his contract and convince him to take a deal that allows them to still sign Klay.

There are other important reasons why trading for Jrue would not be the best idea. The Warriors have done a lot of work over the summer to integrate Paul into the team. The players, coaches, and front office have fully embraced one of Dub Nation's most hated rivals. Similarly, the team has gone to great lengths to pump up Kuminga in an effort to not only maximize the player, but also shed the label that they cannot develop talent. Trading CP3 and JK now undoes all of that. Remember in 2017 when the Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas for Kyrie Irving after Thomas led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals on a bad hip and after his sister unexpectedly died? The ruthlessness of that trade affected the Celtics' ability to lure stars for years afterwards. If the Warriors punt on James Wiseman, Jordan Poole (after being a key piece to a title and getting punched by Draymond), CP3 (who has not even put on the jersey yet), and Kuminga in a seven-month span, that might have the same deleterious effects to the organization. And everything we have seen since Lacob took over is that the Golden State Warriors want to be seen as a player-friendly organization.

So, while Jrue Holiday would be an excellent fit in Golden State, fans need to remember that this is not 2k. There are real life, bigger picture ramifications for every move. For those reasons, I would urge Warriors fans to temper their expectations regarding any blockbuster trades in the near future.

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Chris Paul, Jrue Holiday, Klay, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry

August 22, 2023 — No Comments

Five Stretches That Will Make or Break the Season

By: Matt Anderson

Last week, the NBA released its schedule for all the teams. Was it weird that they tried to make an event out of a schedule that covers 1,230 games played over eight months? Yes. But that does not mean I did not immediately pull up the Warriors' schedule and start the analysis. My first impression was that the schedule makers did not do this team any favors. As NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson pointed out, the Dubs have 15 back-to-back games, the most in the league (for the second year in a row), and the fourth year in a row they've had that many.

I started my analysis with the goal of picking 3-5 games to circle on the calendar and opine as to why they might be big games. But the more I looked at it, the more the "key game" had to be framed by what was scheduled before or after. So instead of key games, I found five key stretches of the season. Without further ado, here are those stretches (listed chronologically):

October 24-November 14: vs. PHX, @SAC, @HOU, @NOP (B2B), vs. SAC, @OKC (NBA Cup), @CLE, @DET (B2B), @DEN, vs. CLE, vs. MIN (2x)(NBA Cup). This is an absolutely brutal opening stretch of games. We start the season in Chase against the newly formed triumvirate of KD, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beale. Then we have 7 of the next 8 on the road, with the lone home game being against last season's first round opponent, the Kings. It includes yet another second night of a back-to-back in New Orleans (I cannot remember the last time we played in New Orleans with any rest whatsoever). The Warriors play their first NBA Cup game in OCK during this stretch. We get a second road/road back-to-back, and a visit to the defending champs, the Denver Nuggets. Then the stretch ends with three games in four nights. Two of these games are against newly minted superstar Ant Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The second of these is our first NBA Cup home game. If this team has the same road woes as last year, this stretch could put them in a hole they can never get out of. If the Warriors do more than just survive this stretch, then the league should be on notice.
December 12-19: @PHX, @LAC, vs. BKN, @POR (B2B), vs. BOS. This stretch of 5 games in 8 nights comes after what could be a 10-day break for the NBA Cup (or it could come after a 5-day break, if the Dubs make the Cup Final). But this stretch includes a home/road back-to-back, 3 games against title aspirants, and it culminates in the always tough Boston Celtics coming to Chase for a Tuesday night national showcase game. This stretch will test the Warriors mettle and conditioning for sure.
January 12-17: @CHI, @MIL (B2B), @MEM, @UTA. Anyone working for an NBA team will tell you that back-to-backs can be managed, but it's the dreaded 4 games in 5 nights that often lead a team to a turdburger performance. Well here is a prime example of that. All 4 of these games are on the road, and none of the travel is particularly easy. Making things more difficult is a date with Giannis and the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back and an Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game against the Grizzlies in Memphis. Also, it is important to note that the Warriors play Dallas at home on the 19th; and as anyone who has listened to Bob Fitzgerald knows, that first home game after a long road trip is often another road game.
February 2-8: @MEM, @ATL, @BKN, @PHI, @IND. Another tough road trip for Golden State with 5 road games in 7 nights. In theory, all of these teams will be trying to make either the playoffs or the play-in. You could argue Brooklyn and Indiana won't be, which is fair. But, Indiana is one of those bogey teams the Warriors always seem to struggle to beat, no matter how bad they are. If the Warriors perform as poorly on the road as they did last year, this stretch will determine a lot for how the remainder of the season goes. Especially since this stretch will end the same day as the trade deadline (or thereabouts).
March 13-April 14: @DAL, @LAL, NYK, MEM, IND, @MIN, @MIA, @ORL (B2B), @CHA, @SAS, @DAL, @HOU, UTA, @LAL, @POR, NOP (B2B), UTA. The Warriors better hope that they are not fighting to make or avoid the play-in, because the last month of the season is the most brutal stretch imaginable. Only 6 of 17 games at home during this stretch, and at least 11 of these teams could be in a seeding battle. The final two back-to-backs are in this stretch, including a road/road one against the Florida teams (also note that they again play New Orleans on the second night of a back-to-back. That is the second time this season and the seventh time since the 2021-2022 season).

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Klay, NBA, Schedule, Stephen Curry

June 23, 2023 — 1 Comment

Warriors Free Agency Primer

By: Matt Anderson

Wow. Yesterday was one of the wildest days Warriors fans have experienced in the Lacob era. Gone are Jordan Poole, Patrick Baldwin, Jr., and Ryan Rollins. In are <gulp> Chris Paul, Brandin Poziemski, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. These moves were as much about roster and salary management as they were about basketball. But that is not why we are here today. We are here to look at how Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and Co. are going to fill out the roster.

As we have seen the last few years, these seemingly marginal moves can make all the difference in the outcome of the season. Two years ago, the Dubs absolutely nailed the Otto Porter, Nemanja Bjelica, Gary Payton III signings, and we won the title. Last year, was 50/50: Donte DiVincenzo was great; JaMychal Green, not so much. As a result, the Warriors had to rely too much on players who simply were not ready to play that kind of role on a championship team.

As of writing this, the Warriors officially have eight players under contract for next year. The hope is that number will be nine in the coming days, with Draymond Green deciding to re-sign with the team. It would be fantastic for DDV to take his player option, but he will probably command offers higher than $4.725 million. We can also bank on the two draftees signing roster contracts. In all likelihood, the Dubs will keep their 15th roster spot open to help save some tax money. Thus, we can realistically look at three free agent signings and two two-way signings. Though, if years past tell us anything, those two-way contracts won't be finalized until the last minute. Furthermore, the due to the new collective bargaining agreement, the Warriors can only sign players to veteran minimums. So, without further ado, here are some players that Warriors should try to sign.

T.J. Warren: Warren fits the OPJ model of player with immense talent that has been held back by injuries the last few years. Starting with the 2020-2021 season, Warren has played 4, 0, and 42 games. But when he's right, he's a great scorer and could slot in nicely in the second unit. In theory, he could replace a good portion of JP's scoring output.

Lonnie Walker IV: He shot 45/37/86, meaning he would be another possible JP second unit scorer replacement. He's not much of a rebounder or a defender, though. And we all know Steve Kerr expects that the bench players to do the little things if they want playing time. Also, signing him might be the Doc Rivers mistake of signing someone just because they had a good playoff game against you.

Austin Rivers: Speaking of the Rivers family.... Look, if we are going to sign players Dub Nation hates, why not catch 'em all. The younger Rivers is still a good defender and a respectable shooter. Kerr loves vets with high IQ, and Austin Rivers is one of those.

Frank Kamisky: Kamisky is another savvy player who does the little things. An eight-year vet who was once a top ten pick? He fits the Warriors mold of being able to coax production out of players many gave up on (see Wiggins, Andrew). As a bonus, Kamisky shot the three well last year after years of flirting with the ability to stretch the floor.

Dario Saric: Saric would be another "Celebrini" signing: a player that has been hampered by injuries recently that the Warrirors bank on thriving health-wise under Rick Celebrini's care. While he played the lowest minutes per game of his career last year, Saric shot 46/39/83. Add in his basketball IQ, and he could be a great back-up big.

Wenyen Gabriel: Gabriel is a tazmanian devil, playing with energy and heart. What he lacks in skill, he makes up for in hustle. Could he play a role like Javale McGee played for the Warriors? I think so.

Rodney McGruder: McGruder is a tough, hardnosed guard who had to scrap his way into the league. He came up through Miami, so he has that "Heat Culture" background. As a result, he does all the little things right, including playing tenacious defense. And while last year he was a great three point shooter, he's only been an average shooter through his career.

Torrey Craig: Craig might command more than a vet minimum, but if the Warriors could get him, that would be a steal. He stretches the floor, rebounds, and defends well, which would be perfect as a backup to Kevon Looney. He does, however, have a tendency to make head scratching plays, which we all know can get a player glued to Kerr's bench.

Yuta Watanabe: It's incredible that a guy who is under 30, shot over 40% from three, and is a plus defender is not only available, but projected to be a vet minimum player. Putting him on the floor with Steph and Klay would give him more open looks than he could ever dream of.

The Known Quantities: The Dubs could also bring back players we know all about. Last year, the vibes were off. Who better to reset that locker room than Juan Toscano-Anderson or Damion Lee? Why not roll the dice and see if Lester Quinones' fantastic G-League season was a fluke? I'm sure there are many in Dub Nation who would hate these moves, but they have some upside (and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for JTA).

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jordan Poole, Klay, Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry

May 16, 2023 — 1 Comment

What Comes Next?

By: Matt Anderson

The 2022-2023 Warriors did not defend their title. In fact, there were only a handful of moments this season where that even felt like a real possibility. Starting with The Punch, the vibes of this team felt completely off all year. The team played sloppily, displayed a surprising lack of urgency, and could rarely sustain any sort of positive momentum. I spent much of the season with feelings of distrust and frustration permeating my relationship with the one team I truly love.

The question now is what do the Warriors do next? The team has a truly ludicrous payroll and is about to face extremely stiff penalties under a new collective bargaining agreement. Owner Joe Lacob has said that he is not afraid to spend money on a title contending team. He has also stated that he wants to build a franchise like the San Antonio Spurs: one that is always in the conversation of elite franchises. That is where the "two timelines" plan came from.

But, one thing we learned the hard way this season is that the "two timelines" strategy is not working. I think there was an admission of that by trading James Wiseman. Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody are or can be useful players, but it remains to be seen if their usefulness will line up with the core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green's ability to play at an elite level. So, Lacob has a choice: go for more titles with the Core Three or be content to be somewhere around the playoff/play-in bubble for the foreseeable future and keep developing young talent.

This should be an easy answer: the Warriors have a literal top 10 all time player in Steph, as well as two sure-fire Hall of Famers in Klay and Dray. Those three showed this year that there is still plenty of gas left in their collective tank. Combine that with last year's title, it is proof that with the right complimentary pieces, this team can be elite. The Warriors should go all-in for as many titles as they can get in the next three to four years. So, what needs to happen with the current roster to get this team back there? Let's go player by player.

First, There are four players that are untouchable right now: Steph, Klay, Dray, and Kevon Looney. Yes, the team needs to work out a new deal for Draymond this summer. But it should be priority one. Priority two should be getting an extension inked for Klay. Hopefully, these deals will be similar to what Andrew Wiggins took last year, which was less than the max. Every dollar they can save between Klay and Dray can be useful.

Speaking of Wiggins, he and Gary Payton II are in the next tier of players on this roster. We will call that tier the "Super Important, but Not Untouchable" tier. These guys are key to the team's success for the unglamorous things they do, especially on defense. Also, the team is super important to them, as Golden State is the place where they both unlocked their best selves. Wiggins and GP2 should be Warriors for at least the remainder of their deals, but the Front Office should not immediately hang up on any call asking about them. If moving them is the cost of getting a player who puts the team as an obvious title favorite, it should at least be considered.

Next, we have the 50/50 guys. These are JP, JK, Moody and Donte DiVincenzo. DDV is in this category because it's truly 50/50 on whether he will be back next year. He has a player option for next season, so he can opt out and become a free agent. If that happens, then the only chance the Warriors would have to retain his services are if no one else wants him and he comes back on a veteran's minimum. I just don't know if he played himself into a contract worth more than $4.725 million, so we can't say what he will do.

The other three are quite a different problem. The question for them is whether the team thinks they still have value on the floor, or if the value comes from who they can be move for. Poole is the fulcrum around which this group of three pivots. He clearly has talent; he averaged over 20 points per game. And, as Steph gets older, there is wisdom in having someone like the best version of JP to lighten Steph's load. But will this franchise ever see the best version of Poole again? The man undeniably works incredibly hard at his game. I have no doubt that whatever he wants, he can achieve. It is just entirely unclear what he wants. Did The Punch sour him on this franchise? Can he continue to coexist with Draymond? Does he want to be the team's Sixth Man, or does he want to be a number one option somewhere else? Does he want to commit to being at least a C+ defender? Only Jordan knows the answers to these questions, and those answers are crucial to what the Warriors do with him.

For JK and Moody, so much depends upon Poole because if the conclusion is that the team needs to move Poole, then they would and should be considered possible pieces to put in the deal. Both have shown enough at times to possibly entice a team looking to bring in a bunch of young, talented players. And given what we have seen from Kuminga and Moses, it would be fair to them to move them where they can play if the powers that be determine there is not a consistent, night-to-night role for them.

In short, Poole, Kuminga, and Moody are the three players the Warriors need to figure out to become contenders again. If there were a team with an older star that's looking to reboot itself around younger talent, these three could serve as enticing trade pieces. The problem is that Poole and Kuminga are probably at their lowest values right now after a dismal playoffs. The catch-22, however, is that if they start next season well enough to raise their stock, the Warriors probably would neither want nor need to trade them. It is a tricky situation that I do not envy this Front Office from trying to sort out.

The next tier consists of the players who are going to be on the roster whether we like it or not. That consists of two players: Patrick Baldwin, Jr. and Ryan Rollins. PBJ is actually intriguing, as a 6'9 wing who can theoretically shoot. I know Kerr is never a fan of young players, but I could see some positive minutes from him next year. The same cannot be said of Ryan Rollins. He was a second round flier that does not appear to have panned out. Oh well.

The penultimate tier is the two-way guys: Ty Jerome and Lester Quinones. As of right now, it appears the Warriors will have at least three roster spots to fill. Depending on what happens with the 50/50 guys, I could see Jerome being the back up point guard. He's a smart player who could provide steady, mistake-free minutes for Kerr. Quinones was pretty great in the G-League this year, averaging 21.8 points on 45/35/78 shooting, 7 rebounds and nearly 5 assists. He could provide value in spot minutes if he can keep up that general efficiency.

The last groups is what I'll call the "Thank You For Your Service" group. That earnestly applies to the retiring Andre Iguodala. We could have used a healthy Iggy in the playoffs this year, or his roster spot during the regular season. It sarcastically applies to JaMychal Green and Anthony Lamb. JG was what he's always been, a great role player on paper who never actually lived up to the hype. The less we say about Anthony Lamb, the better. The Warriors can find plenty of players who can hit threes at a slightly above average clip and miss defensive assignments that have not been sued for rape.*

*As a firm believer in appeasing the basketball gods, one cannot help but wonder if the cursed feeling of this season has a little bit to do with the inexcusable choice by the Front Office to employ someone involved in such atrocious allegations.

In short, as many smarter people have already written, the Warriors have a lot of soul searching to do this offseason. And that centers almost entirely around two decisions: (1) what to do with Draymond's contract; and (2) what to do with Poole, Kuminga, and Moody. The cool thing about all of this is that we will all get to see those answers play out over the next twelve months.

Published by Matt Anderson in Blog

Tags: Andre Igaudola, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Joe Lacob, Jonathan Kuminga, Jordan Poole, Klay, Stephen Curry

March 5, 2023 — No Comments

Klay Thompson Isn’t Back – He’s Better.

It was November 18, 2022.

In a hard-fought 111-101 win over the New York Knicks, Klay Thompson chalked up 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. This would be just the first time he had shot ≥50% from the floor in the 2022-2023 season.

Following a disheartening loss to conference rivals in Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns two nights prior, Draymond Green had called a team meeting to address some festering elephants in the room. And, as rumor has it, Klay’s selfish play was the main topic of discussion. Draymond is the only human outside of fellow Splash Brother Stephen Curry that could look Klay in the face and tell him he’s playing like a selfish asshole. Something clicked. Draymond’s harsh, but needed words sparked an efficient night from Klay that saw him being intentional in his shot selection, while allowing the game to come to him — two areas that had been absent in all of his prior games this season.

Fortunately, this was the beginning of something truly special. After a slow build of solid and selfless performances over the next five weeks, Klay showed out in vintage fashion, exploding for 54 points in a double over-time thriller versus Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. If you watched this game, you remember his step-back three to put the Dubs up two points with 20 seconds left in the first OT. After the shot fell through the basket, Klay turned around and powered his fist through the air, smiting the demons and silencing the haters that had been clouding his headspace all season long.

That victory over the Hawks came on the second day of January — a month that proved to be dominant for Klay, as he posted 27ppg -- a new career high. Had you told this to one of the many fans that demanded a trade locked and his head on a stick earlier in the season, they would have scoffed at you. But this Klay was different. It was as though the weight of his injuries, personal struggles, and team-wide woes and frustrations had been valiantly lifted off of his shoulders — by no one other than himself. The month-long stretch breathed new life into Klay, re-establishing his self-confidence and enabling him to settle into a comfortable groove.

Then, in February, we saw a new version of Klay. Not the “Killa Klay” of old that everyone had been wishing for, but a refined offensive machine boasting fresh layers and developments to his game that were never present – even in previous champion runs. Isolation off-the-dribble threes, pump-fakes after penetration to draw contact (Klay shooting free-throws?!), cerebral passes to teammates in situations you may have expected him to live out his “shooters shoot” mentality, and consistent rebounding efforts by the 6'6" shooting guard have given the Dubs the edge they need in a season that has been frustratingly average.

Most importantly, Klay’s well-rounded performances could not have possibly come at a better time. With Steph Curry’s injury in early February, Klay has become a much-needed leader and playmaker for four consecutive weeks. In this span, his newfound offensive bag has been on full display, conveying a more mature and deliberate approach to the game. The best part is that these developments have come in addition to — not in place of — his prowess as the second-best shooter of all time. At 25.5ppg in February, Klay recorded his second-best scoring month, behind only January’s new career-high. Klay’s performance in 2023 has been remarkable -- and it’s the best version we have seen of the 6'6" sniper’s veteran career.

Steph and Andre Iguodala are set to make their return in today’s matchup @ the Los Angeles Lakers (30-34), and the Dubs are sitting at four games over .500 (34-30) for the first time this season, good for sole possession of 5th in the West. Poised to carry their momentum from a perfect 5-0 homestand to the upcoming road trip, Klay Thompson’s sensational play has perfectly positioned the Dubs to make a huge push to close out the regular season.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed, consider following @tannergardner_ and @WarriorsHuddle on Twitter.

Published by Tanner Gardner | @tannergardner_ on Twitter in Blog

Tags: Andre Igaudola, Klay, Klay Thompson, Lakers, Steph Curry