The Golden State Warriors have been one of the most unexpected teams this NBA season (2023–24). After 21 games, the Warriors’ record is 10-11 and they are below.500. Currently ranked 11th in the Western Conference, they are looking in on the NBA Play-In Tournament from the outside.
Although Draymond Green’s five-game ban threw things off in the beginning, this Warriors team doesn’t look or feel like the ones from the past. While Stephen Curry is still a star, there seems to be a gap in the supporting group.
Although there are rumors that Klay Thompson is washed up and on the downslope of his career, he hasn’t really taken off. The performance of Andrew Wiggins, who is now generating at a lower clip than Thompson, has been even more troubling.
What steps can the Warriors take to restore order? Paul Pierce, a former NBA All-Star, thinks a trade is necessary for Golden State to be competitive. On a recent episode of Showtime’s “KG Certified,” he discussed this viewpoint with his former Boston Celtics colleague Kevin Garnett.
“You got to make a trade,” Pierce told Garnett. “I still believe in Steph [Curry]. I believe in Draymond [Green], that you can still build around them if you get the right pieces, that they can win a championship. But you’ve got to make some moves. As currently constructed, [Golden State] is barely a playoff team.”
Pierce is optimistic that Curry and Green can lead a championship team and win another championship for the Bay Area. However, a transaction to strengthen the supporting group is required in order to elevate the squad to the level they feel they are capable of.
That is obviously easier said than done. Many were left wondering whether their current run of success would last since Bob Myers is no longer serving as general manager and overseeing the front office.
Pierce believes that the Warriors are in this situation in large part because of their own actions. Recent seasons have seen Golden State waver on decisions, including selecting premium draft picks, which has left the team without a long-term succession plan.
“Golden State, it’s on them, but it’s also on the players that they brought in. Like, think about this. What if [James] Wiseman had turned into what they needed him to turn into? Jordan Poole? [Jonathan] Kuminga and [Andrew] Wiggins? They were supposed to keep the dynasty going. But they didn’t pan out like [the Warriors] thought they would. Wiggins is supposed to be giving you what Klay [Thompson] is giving you now.”
Suppose that the Warriors, instead of James Wiseman, who they selected second, had chosen Onyeka Okongwu, the next center off the board, at No. 6 in the 2020 NBA Draft. For example, Tyrese Haliburton, who went No. 12, and LaMelo Ball, an All-Star guard, who went No. 3.
With their two lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, they selected Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. After Kuminga and a few choices after Moody, Trey Murphy III, and Alperen Sengun were selected, Franz Wagner was chosen.
Suppose that the Warriors, instead of James Wiseman, who they selected second, had chosen Onyeka Okongwu, the next center off the board, at No. 6 in the 2020 NBA Draft. For example, Tyrese Haliburton, who went No. 12, and LaMelo Ball, an All-Star guard, who went No. 3.
With their two lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, they selected Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga. After Kuminga and a few choices after Moody, Trey Murphy III, and Alperen Sengun were selected, Franz Wagner was chosen.
The squad is in a difficult situation as a result of the front office’s incapacity to identify and nurture new players. Their attempt to balance nurturing fresh talent with being all-in around their Big 3 proved to be more difficult than they had anticipated.
Curry needs more support from the Warriors if they hope to win another championship with him at the forefront. The Memphis Grizzlies, who trail the Warriors in the Western Conference, will shortly have Ja Morant back, so things won’t be much easier there.
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