Offseason Thread

[Who]

If all the teams are basically healthy, the Warriors are at best the 4th best team in the west behind OKC, LAL, and HOU.  I think you could make cases that MIN, DEN, LAC, and DAL are better. They could make the Finals, but it will take some upsets in the playoffs to make it there.  The Warriors are old and a disjointed offensive team.  They don't make sense as a group offensively.  Too many poor players or bad fits.  When they were winning titles they had the perfect team around Curry to maximize his strengths. They don't have that any more and he has clearly lost a step.  If they have injuries at all during the season, they might not even make the playoffs (play in, sure, but winning those games won't be easy against younger teams like the Grizzlies, Spurs, etc.).

We'll see.  GSW were always pretty good when they had Curry, Clay, and Green.  Over the top good when Durant was added to this mix but this "big 3" did win a title in 2022 with just the core 3 along with role players like Wiggins, Looney, and so on.

Now they have a big 3 of Curry, Butler, and Green with a different mix of supporting players.  I think Butler is better than Clay, so I see this big 3 as better.  Then they have Hield/Horford over Wiggins/Looney.  You could keep going through the bench but the players matter less and less as you keep going down the list.  This team is older than the 2022 team, but I think it is a little better.  I agree that their health may not hold up, but they will manage the heck out of their minutes during the regular season to try and make a playoff run. 

So maybe 4th best regular season record, but I think better than 4th best for the playoffs.  OKC of course is the favorite, but after that, I am not buying HOU (Durant is less durable than the GSW stars) and DEN needs Murray healthy (which he usually isn't).  On LAL, I am not sure, they could be really good, one last run for LeBron, but they have risks and weaknesses too.  LAL vs. GSW would be a fun playoff match up.

Butler is better than Klay, but he is a much worse fit with Curry.  Butler is at his best with the ball. He isn't even a good shooter.  Klay could play off the ball and rarely missed an open 3.  Klay was also a SG and could defend the best guard on the other team allowing Curry more rest on the defensive side.  Butler can't defend guards so Curry can't hide defensively as well.  Sometimes talent isnt as important as fit.  Klay fit much better with Curry than Butler.

Klay could defend those guards for Steph in the 2015-18 Championship run. Klay couldn't defend those guards anymore in the 2022 Championship after all his injuries. So GSW have already won a title without that element on their roster.

Podz is a better defender than Klay. Both today and the 2022 version of Klay. He defends PGs far better than Klay and also defends SGs better than Klay.

[Moranis]

That is true of Podz, but he is also a much worse offensive player which offense was more the point I was making.  What made the Warriors so good was the best shooter of all time being surrounded by players that fed off his skill set.  Klay was the ideal teammate for Steph offensively.   Even guys like Wiggins played their roles well.  Butler significantly changes that dynamic and I don't see them as the same type of team and I don't think they are young enough or good enough to truly compete.  They've always end the elite offense to compete and they just don't have one anymore.

[Vermont Green]

That is true of Podz, but he is also a much worse offensive player which offense was more the point I was making.  What made the Warriors so good was the best shooter of all time being surrounded by players that fed off his skill set.  Klay was the ideal teammate for Steph offensively.   Even guys like Wiggins played their roles well.  Butler significantly changes that dynamic and I don't see them as the same type of team and I don't think they are young enough or good enough to truly compete.  They've always end the elite offense to compete and they just don't have one anymore.

I think you are looking at this the wrong way.  Klay was good because Curry made him better.  Curry is at that level, can carry a team, elevate those around him (even Wiggins).  It isn't that Klay or Wiggins made Curry better.  And now Curry will make Butler better and I think vise verse.  If they both hold up.

We'll see, but that is my prediction.

[snively]

I really like that Warriors squad.

Reminiscent of the Amare-less 05/06 Suns team that lost to the Dirk Mavs in the WCF. Curry as Nash-like offensive focal point. Butler/Green/Horford as a skilled, switchable two-way frontcourt a la Marion/Diaw/Tim Thomas. Moody/Payton as 3/D options a la Raja Bell. Hield as Eddie House style bench gunner. Podz/Kuminga as the Barbosa style streaky sparkplugs.

The defensive quality is excellent and they have the depth to keep the old legs fresh. Their passing ability offensively is superb and Butler, even old, is likely to remain a dangerous clutch creator alongside Curry.

Besides health, a lot of their upside hinges on Podz or Kuminga solidifying that 3rd option scoring role they need so badly. I've lost touch with all the intricacies of trade rules, so I don't know if Kuminga can be traded midseason for a mid level star.

If so I imagine they'll be players for whichever big name shakes loose by the trade deadline.

[Neurotic Guy]

I really like that Warriors squad.

Reminiscent of the Amare-less 05/06 Suns team that lost to the Dirk Mavs in the WCF. Curry as Nash-like offensive focal point. Butler/Green/Horford as a skilled, switchable two-way frontcourt a la Marion/Diaw/Tim Thomas. Moody/Payton as 3/D options a la Raja Bell. Hield as Eddie House style bench gunner. Podz/Kuminga as the Barbosa style streaky sparkplugs.

The defensive quality is excellent and they have the depth to keep the old legs fresh. Their passing ability offensively is superb and Butler, even old, is likely to remain a dangerous clutch creator alongside Curry.

Besides health, a lot of their upside hinges on Podz or Kuminga solidifying that 3rd option scring role they need so badly. I've lost touch with all the intricacies of trade rules, so I don't know if Kuminga can be traded midseason for a mid level star.

If so I imagine they'll be players for whichever big name shakes loose by the trade deadline.

Good for the Warriors for assembling a team that on paper looks like a contender.  We all know that if there is a downfall it will be age. Starting Lineup Al (39), Steph (37), Butler (36) Draymond (35), and the baby Hield (32).  Young men all, but not for NBA basketball.  Almost impossible to believe that they will be unscathed by injury or fatigue.

[Donoghus]

FWIW, the wise guys have Golden State at the 6th best odds to win the West at +1100.  Currently behind OKC, DEN, HOU, MIN, & LAL.

[Goldstar88]

Nick Smith, Jr. to the Lakers on a 2-way.

That?s a good signing for them. This is the kind of player that you should try to develop. Only 21 years old. He averaged 10ppg last year for Charlotte. Good shooter, career 37% from 3pt, 92% from the line.