The Warriors were forced to play without at least one of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry for the majority of 2021/22, as the three veteran stars each dealt with injuries and shared the court for just 11 minutes during the regular season.
Through two playoff games, Thompson, Green, and Curry have spent 30 minutes playing together and the Warriors have posted a +45.9 net rating during those minutes. Up 2-0 over Denver and firing all cylinders, this version of the club is the one owner Joe Lacob has been waiting all season to see, he told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.
“This is the team we paid for,” said Lacob, referring to the record-setting cost of the roster. “We never really had the team together all year. So I’m excited to see them all play together. We never really got to see it. I think it’s exciting to see it.”
Lacob acknowledged that it has only been two games and that he doesn’t want to rush to any judgments, especially without having played on the road at all yet. But based on what he has seen so far, he feels good about Golden State’s chances of making a deep playoff run.
“I think one would have to certainly look at what we’ve done in the first two games and say it looks pretty good,” Lacob told Kawakami.
Here’s more from the Warriors’ owner:
- Lacob told Kawakami that he’s thrilled about the emergence of Jordan Poole, who has “arguably been our best player for a month and a half.” With the third-year guard eligible for a lucrative rookie scale extension this offseason, Kawakami asked Lacob just how far the Warriors are willing to extend their payroll to make sure they lock up Poole and keep their core intact. “I’m not going to talk about salary because it’s irrelevant right now,” he replied. “We’re in this year. After the year’s over we’re all evaluating where we are, and we’ll try to put the best team on the court we can for next year. And we’ll see what that is.”
- Lacob admitted to Kawakami that he got a little nervous during the Warriors’ 1-7 slump near the end of the regular season, but said he was confident the team would be fine once it got healthy. “This isn’t baseball. This isn’t football. This isn’t 50 guys or 25 guys,” Lacob said. “One guy can make a huge difference. You add Steph Curry to what we were doing at the end of the year, it’s pretty good.”
- Even as Curry, Thompson, and Green enter their mid-30s, the Warriors are well positioned to remain competitive for the foreseeable future due to a young core of Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman, all of whom are 22 or younger. Lacob said he’s pleased that the Warriors’ decision to focus on both the present and future appears to be paying dividends. “There are a couple teams, I’m not going to say who, there’s some other teams that went all-in on older players,” Lacob told Kawakami. “And older players do get injured. That’s the thing you have to remember. Suppose we had made a trade, traded away all our youth, for I don’t know, you name the guy, and they’re injured, out for the year. Anytime you’re over 30, 32, 35, these people get injured. It’s data.”
If W’s dont win it all this year, how can you not second guess not trading Wiseman, Moody, or Kuminga for a veteran star? Let’s just win it all and then worry about luxury tax. Gotta bring back GP2, Looney, Porter.
Otto Porter Jr is 100% absolutely gone. This is a make good year for him to get another 3-year contract out there somewhere. Warriors will not pay him more than the minimum and he’ll get more elsewhere. Jonathan kuminga will take his minutes.
Not sure about Looney, hopefully he’s good with a little bit of a raise, making 7 million and two more years? I think he makes around 5 million per year now.
JP2 is the guy I want GSW to keep. When he is in on defense he turns the game in GSW favor. They could backload a contract because there is no way Wiggins is coming back after next year.
Poole’s extension would start the year Wiggs leaves … the question isn’t if JP will be offered the Max he can get, but whether Wiggs will take a discount.
@alexn-2 I don’t understand your post. You are talking about the Warriors 2 seasons from now. I guess you are new to this. Why talk about things you know nothing about?
alexn-2’s post appears correct… both contracts end after next year… Wiggins & Poole.
I also agree Wigs would be up for a discount… but not that much, and Kuminga/Moody look more than able to replace him.
Wiggins expiring may finally be tradeable, but no guarantee of that still.
I will be very surprised if Porter gets more than 1 yr. Look at Bucks Portis. Question is will W’s pay raise for Looney, Porter, and GP2. Love to see W‘s keep continuity in 2nd unit. I see Kuminga as eventual takeover for Wiggins in his year 3. Hopefully W’s keep Wiggins for 1 more year and win 2 consecutive titles.
OMG. Who the hell do you want to trade these guys for? Please explain to me how this fantasy player will win the Warriors another Championship. I don’t understand why you want the Warriors to suck.
Dude, W’s own All Star trio wanted another veteran to help them maximize their title window. Bottom line Poole’s emergence has lessened the need for one, and W’s can have the best of both world if they win the title. It’s a title or bust for the trio every yr going forward.
“The W’s”
Dude, spell it out. W – A – R – R – I – O – R – S
Also, if the warriors don’t win it all this year, there’s nobody who should second guess them not trading Moody, Wiseman, and Kuminga.
Especially after seeing the potential of Kuminga.
Who exactly is this star player you wanted ?
In order for them to get this star player you craved so bad, they would have to trade Wiggins along with two of those prospects. And did you not see how big of a part Wiggins was this season to the Warriors success? The guy made the All-Star team, great fit for the warriors, the teams most durable starter this year, and he’s been one of the leagues better defenders.
So who did you want ? Beal ?
The star scorer who regressed this season and missed more than half the season, who also can’t defend the WNBA’s best player?
Or did you want them to package Wigs with these youngsters for Ben Simmons ?
Who I believe would of been a great fit as well for the warriors but he would’ve been out the entire season.
Win or lose, the warriors did right by not trading wigs or the prospects.
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Again ASK Iggy and the all star trio. They all have high basketball IQ and probably had handful of players in mind especially at the deadline. I’m just glad they didnt trade away Poole. :)
SF, all off season the peanut gallery made thousands of posts (including alleged smart websites) saying the W’s should trade all their picks plus Wiseman for the ever popular “star” (usually Beal, Simmons or Siakam if they named one). I’d rather have the players the W’s have on their current roster (Poole is a better all around player than Beal right now, Kuminga looks like a future great one, and I still think Wiseman has sky high upside. I like Moody too).
Kezar, I was definitely one of those guys last summer. Trade the pics and get a veteran. Sure glad they didn’t LOL.
We really can see how older guys get hurt and young guys with potential are great to have. Sure worked out well for the Warriors and how they sit today. Tremendous mix of veterans and good young players. Bob Myers did a great job.
Thx Gary. Regarding Myers, how many posters wanted to trade the 2 firsts? And then griped they chose Kuminga over other “better” players. And also laughed at the Poole pick, especially when he was often playing for Santa Cruz. And now constantly question picking Wiseman. Kuminga has become a present/future star. Poole has become a star. So posters, keep doubting Wiseman….please.
I agree to that… Injuries strike young and old players ain’t no data BS, Warriors rookies will probably play left over minutes… To maximimise your chance to win it all you need PO experienced vets+ 2 all stars
“To maximimise your chance to win it all you need PO experienced vets+ 2 all stars”
How that work out for the Lakers this year ?
Also, what is Maximimise? German way of saying Maximize ?
Going to be a tough road even with the Nuggets, then the Grizzlies, and then the Suns.., just to get to the finals versus the bucks or whoever comes out of the East. It is going to be very, very tough.
By the way it looks like Bob Myers was right when he didn’t go out and pick up one of those scrub 7-footers everyone was crying to obtain. He decided to roll with what they had.., Looney,Green and Bjelica. Working out so far against the best center in the universe.
Who says the Grizz make it to rd 2? They say don’t panic after 1 game but the Wolves mopped the floor with the Grizz in game 1. I’m sticking with my prediction. Wolves in 5. I just the don’t think the Grizz have an answer for KAT.
Exactly right. Wolves look outstanding and they surprised me with their tenacity. Great coaching and players stepping up.
Ok nevermind apparently the Grizzly’s answer to KAT is just to only let him take 7 shots.
Scoonie Penn!!
The way the Wolves are playing they make me nervous too!
They crumbled in the last game though. Grizzlies in control for sure.
I think you were right about Wiggins. The Warriors won a Championship with Clifford Ray at Center.
GSW will be in the WCF. Owners who pay the tax repetitively are rare.
Not traditionally a Warriors fan but they got my attention this year as an “underdog”.
Picked them to win it all a few months back (I have the bet slip for those interested). Not sure how that will play out, or whether it’s even the outcome I want, but gotta enjoy the moment.
What did they do that caused that prediction? You did not think they needed another center? Steven A Smith was still saying so yesterday.
I love how Lacob took a swipe at the Lakers without mentioning them by name…
Yup !! Owners have egos too and it’s all about competition at their level as well. Can you imagine the trash talking at the owners meetings LOL.