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The Golden State Warriors' season ended on a rough note. Despite a historic individual season by Stephen Curry, the 8th-seeded team squandered both play-in games and failed to enter the NBA playoffs. The Warriors must now focus on the offseason and the moves they need to make.
Monte Poole of the NBC Sports Bay Area reported that after the loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, GM Bob Myers held meetings with Steph Curry and Draymond Green. These meetings reportedly went on for two hours and 90 minutes respectively, and were primarily to discuss what the franchise's next steps should be.
What the Golden State Warriors shouldn't do
The Golden State Warriors front office is regarded as one of the best in the league. They have an eye for talent which is evident from the core three of Curry, Green and Klay Thompson they have in their ranks. The culture in Golden State makes for an attractive destination.
However, lately, we have seen them make a few blunders. The NBA granted them $9 million for the Disabled Player Exception when Klay Thompson tore his Achilles, but the front office let it expire unused. They also didn't make any moves at the NBA trade deadline when it was quite apparent that Curry and Green were having incredible seasons.
Also Read: 5 Biggest mistakes made by the Golden State Warriors during the 2020-21 NBA season
With the Golden State Warriors heading into the offseason, we focus on the five moves they should avoid.
#1 Trade James Wiseman
Although his season was derailed by injuries, James Wiseman had a great rookie campaign. He upgraded his defensive skills under the mentorship of Draymond Green and developed his game by working with coach Steve Kerr. Wiseman fulfills the Golden State Warriors' need for size and has shown incredible potential for growth. Curry himself claimed that 20-year-old can contribute significantly right away "for sure".
Coach Steve Kerr spoke about his rookie, saying:
"I'm impressed by his willingness to learn. And his anger when he didn't play well. I like that. He's got the full package as a young player to be a great player in this league."
The teammates and coaching staff have heaped high praise on Wiseman and having a young talented center complementing the core three will be incredibly beneficial.
He could potentially be a big part of the team's future as he is just 20 years old. The league also seems to be leaning towards big men again, and having a 7-footer on your squad is a huge benefit.
#2 Get Back Andre Iguodala
There has been chatter around Dub Nation about whether the team should bring back Andre Iguodala in free agency. Although he delivered in big moments for the team and has immense respect and admiration from the fanbase, the Golden State Warriors must avoid bringing him back.
Iguodala turns 38 next season and his best playing days seem a distant past. His numbers have consistently fallen in almost every statistical category over the past few years and he also plays fewer minutes per game. 'Iggy' was known for his defensive capabilities, but is unlikely to look the part in a championship-level defence. Bringing back Iguodala simply for nostalgic purposes could prove to be a blunder.
The Golden State Warriors already have Curry, Green and Thompson on the team along with Kerr at the helm. Clearly, there is sufficient experience within the franchise. Given that the Warriors are in the luxury tax, they can use whatever money they have in getting a decent role player rather than bringing back Iguodala.
#3 Drafting rookies in the 2021 NBA Draft
The Golden State Warriors potentially have two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA draft, but they should not pick any rookies. They drafted Wiseman and Nico Mannion in the 2020 NBA Draft and faced criticism for that move as well. The core three of Curry, Green and Thompson are all above 31 years old, with Curry turning 34 next season.
The window of opportunity for a championship already looks quite small. In such a situation, the team cannot afford to draft inexperienced college players if they plan on competing for the title over the next few years.
This is not the time to plan for the future when one of the best players of the game, i.e., Curry, is still performing at a high level of efficiency. The timeline of the rookies' development simply does not match the timeline of the stars. The Golden State Warriors must tie up those picks in a package and trade for a veteran who can contribute to a championship run.
#4 Trade Andrew Wiggins
Although many fans and analysts believe that Andrew Wiggins' salary needs to be dumped, the Golden State Warriors might be better off hanging on to him. He was their only consistent player in the 2020-21 NBA season apart from Curry and was the second scoring option every night.
Wiggins averaged 18 points per game for the season but in the second half took his game up a notch. He was at All-Star caliber numbers since the mid-season break, averaging 20.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while putting on a clinic on the defensive end of the floor.
Wiggins also played phenomenal defense all season. Everyone credits his improvement on the defensive end of the floor and he often guards the best player in the opposition. Wiggins has also boosted his shot-blocking ability and locked up guards on the perimeter.
Additionally, Klay Thompson will be coming off two catastrophic injuries and is also expected to be out for injury management for much of next season. Having a defensive wing who can get you 20 points per game like Wiggins would be ideal for the Golden State Warriors. He can take over when Thompson isn't playing, and play a minor role offensively when Thompson plays, while consistently making defensive stops at the other end.
#5 Signing multi-year deals
The Golden State Warriors have four players on max deals: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins' deal ends after the 2022-23 NBA season at an average of $31 million per year. Green's has a player option for the 2023-24 season with the contract averaging $24.5 million per season.
Thompson recently signed a huge deal tying him up with the franchise till 2023-24, receiving an average salary of $38.5 million per year. Lastly, Curry is expected to sign a four-year $215.4 million deal in the upcoming offseason.
The Warriors are on a repeater tax for the foreseeable future. It's safe to say those luxury tax bills aren't going away anytime soon and the franchise cannot hand out multi-year deals. Unless a superstar free agent like Kawhi Leonard is on the table, the Golden State Warriors should not be considering any such deals.
Also Read: 3 biggest needs for Golden State Warriors in the 2021 NBA off-season
Guess the Lakers players!
