Speaking to Mark Medina of NBA.com on Wednesday, Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers suggested he doesn’t expect to make any significant changes to the current roster before the 2022/23 season begins.
“I like our team and where it’s at,” Myers said of the defending champions. “I want to give the guys a chance to do it again.”
While Medina interprets Myers’ comments as a strong signal that the Warriors won’t seriously pursue a Kevin Durant trade, such a move was already considered a long shot. Golden State hasn’t shown much interest in sacrificing its depth or young prospects in order to make a run at another marquee player, Medina notes.
For his part, Myers is curious to see what the Warriors look like defending their title after coming off a couple non-playoff seasons in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s a good group. We’re lucky. It’ll be fun to see,” he told Medina. “We were really hunting last year. Now I guess we’re back to being the hunted, which I didn’t think we’d be. We’ll see. I think we can handle it.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report attempts to make sense of recent reports about Phil Knight‘s interest in buying the Trail Blazers and Jody Allen‘s statement insisting the franchise isn’t currently for sale. Observing that Knight is an ideal buyer from the NBA’s perspective, Highkin suggests more reports like the New York Post’s dubiously sourced hit piece on Allen could surface in the coming weeks and months in an effort to pressure her to sell.
- It slipped through the cracks when Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com (Twitter link) first reported it earlier this month, but the Trail Blazers have stretched Eric Bledsoe‘s $3.9MM in dead money across three seasons rather than applying the full amount to their 2022/23 cap. The decision, which results in annual $1.3MM cap hits through ’24/25, moves Portland’s team salary for this season slightly under the luxury tax line.
- Deividas Dulkys, who served as a player development coach for Memphis’ G League team in 2021/22, will take a player development role with the Kings, reports Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com. The former Florida State wing, who played professionally from 2012-21, was a member of the Lithuanian national team during 2012 Olympic qualifiers.
to sport writers and the Nets. GSW are not going to trade for KD. Stop pretending they want him back. They have moved along so should you. Sorry Nets you can’t use GSW to get a better deal on a KD trade.
The Warriors won without KD. They obviously don’t need him. Why give up half your rotation for one player?
It’s Wiggins-KD in a multi-teamer, or not happening. Being Wiggins also won a ring here, not happening doesn’t mean much to GSW, and way more to KD.
It’s very possible, Myers was trying to make it difficult and/or raise the stake for Suns, Heat, and others.
Meyers just got tired of hearing the rumors and getting questioned by players if they will get shipped out. He is just calming nerves of his young players to not worry about all those rumors.
Dulkys hit a gw trey at Cameron Indoor abt a decade ago if I’m not mistaken. Basketball culture in Lithuania is incredible fr. Their team is doing great right now in the U20 Euros
Curry, Thompson, Green, Looney, Wiggins, Poole, Kuminga, Wiseman, Moody
No team is clearing that top 9 in terms of talent. Not sure anyone’s even close. Maybe Milwaukee??
If GSW stays healthy its an EARLY wrap on this season…
How about the Clippers? Or for that matter the Suns? I think you bought some rose colored glasses. A lot broke well for GSW last season, including injuries to other teams…I think we should probably let them play the games.
Steve don’t pay no mind to A’sfaninLexington. You know by now that he has one pair of rose colored glasses for everyday of the week and two for sunday.
Steve, I agree except for the “broke well” comment should be replaced with “everyone got healthy when it counted”. That ain’t a “broke well”. Unless Paytons bone broke then healed well is what you meant.
Yes Claude I agree with you and it wasn’t that things broke well for the Warriors, but that they worked hard and played well to Win It all.
I just go against A’sfaninLexington because he makes it sound like it’s a breeze and no effort or planning or practice or diligence is involved in the process. It takes a lot to win an NBA championship and the grit and the no sleep and the stress and the grind takes its toll. Whoever wins it is a well-deserved honor.
Warriors would be fortunate to win again if they ever do. They’ll be the first to tell us it’s not easy. Lexington takes away all that and gives them the ring in July.
In my response to Steve I began with agreeing to his criticizing of Asfan. I don’t respond directly to MartyAsFanInuk. But the rest of Steve’s post was weak
can’t wait to see the new kid….P.B.J
Larry, if he can get his shot straightened out and consistent he’ll quickly become Steve Novak. As he matures gets older and better he’ll become even more with post-up game drives to the whole, mid-range shot etc.
Or Harrison Barnes Gary? BTW, I’ve been interested in your thoughts on the combined additions of Divicenzo and J Green.
PS Gary, is McGlung worth a look. I’ve heard him compared to Guy from Summer League 2021 but i see him being way more versatile.
I mentioned a little something when the Warriors signed Mac Mcclung. He can jump through the roof but he is not strong enough, too small and not fast enough to be a rotation guy in the nba. With those things on your physical resume you must be a terrific three-point shot to make it today. They say Mac has improved in that area so maybe he has a chance?
His excellent attitude, work ethic, team first and good guy in the locker room got him signed and foot in the door. If he can be a good deep shooter and keep his turnovers low, he’ll stick. If he tries to do too much and a little bit too much Flair which leads to those turnovers, he’s not going to make it. You have to be able to trust your third point guard, the 14th man, with the ball. When you’re up 25 with 3 minutes to go you don’t want turnovers to lead to your starters having to come back in the game because McClung is out there doing no look behind the back passes bouncing off of Patrick Baldwin’s knee.
McClung is the same size as Steph Curry. He kinda worked out. Curry was pretty scrawny when he came into the Association. Look at Spudd Webb, he was only 5’6″ and won a slam dunk contest.
SFGiants, I believe you’re saying that you can look at a person and tell how strong they are. I believe that’s inaccurate.
A guy can be a lot stronger than he looks and also perhaps it can be that someone that looks strong isn’t. My experience anyway.
As it relates to McClung and Steph, Curry has worked on his core strength over the years and thus he is very strong though you may not be able to see it in his arms, chest, and shoulders. McClung does not have that core strength yet though he may work on it also in the coming years.
@Gary Umm…You seem to overlook a huge part of Curry’s NBA history. The guy had ankle problems his first 2 seasons. There are no muscles that you work on to strengthen your ankles. That’s why they are being delicate with Baldwin. You can’t be explosive if your ankles give out…Curry is definitely more buff than his 1st season with the Warriors.
SFGiants, I mentioned SMALL not SHORT. Spud Webb won a dunk contest because he could jump through the roof and so can Mac Mcclung. In fact I think McClung has won several dunk contests against bigger players.
Muggsy Bogues was 5’3 but he was not small. He was a tank and had core strength and lasted a good many years in the NBA as a starting point guard on playoff teams.
Spud Webb was short and he maybe even small, but the man was lightning quick and he was also fast. Plus he could jump. These are all different attributes that affect a player in different ways. Chris Mullin was quick with his hands (and his mind of course,) but he was very slow (meaning not fast, he would never win a Sprint.) I hope this all makes sense. I could be out in left field.
McClung is only 21. He can do a lot of work on developing his body. He has plenty of room to grow. Look at GPII, he could only get 10 day contracts for his first six seasons. It is probably an overpay; he got a $28 million contract off of 1 season.
Yes SFGiants great points. You are right.
@Gary I obviously not a basketball genius. But, the Warriors have been doing something right. I prefer to let things play out. I’m saying everything they have done is brilliant. But, it is working.
SFGiants, yes me as well. What do I know? Not a lot. But it’s fun to talk about Hoops here on the website and in the comment section. All I can do is give my opinion and we can go back and forth and discuss things. I enjoy it. You have good opinions and I love reading them.
Claude, I agree with you in that Kyle Guy and Mac McClung are two different players, even though the same size. Mac McClung is an athletic ball handling point guard with a lot of flair. Kyle Guy is a very good three-point shooter who’s trying to learn the point guard position.
Curry and Green wanted Divencenzo. He also has a better track record than Payton. A definite upgrade.
I think they’re different kind of players even though maybe about the same size. Harrison Barnes is similar in that he was sort of upright and not a super athletic high flyer on the wing. He can jump through the roof but he’s very rigid in his game.
He’s different from PBJ because Baldwin is a pure shooter and Barnes is not. Barnes has worked on his mid-range to become a good shooter but Baldwin is a marksman from Deep, or potentially one. Also, Barnes can do a little bit of everything very well. We’re hoping Baldwin can play a little d and drive the ball to the hole and do other things besides sit on the three-point line.
Donte DeVincenzo and JaMychal Green signings have to rank up there with the best bargain money deals The Warriors have had in this run. Divincenzo is Young and a really good basketball player, and Green is also pretty young and a real good player.
These two definitely make up for who the Warriors have lost albeit in different ways. Be nice to have a defensive stopper again like Gary Payton but those guys are tough to find. So be it. The Warriors defense is good as a whole anyway, and having a stopper is not a $30 million luxury they can afford to pay $130 million for.
So you have Lexington’s top 9 above plus Devincenzo, J Green and the Warriors are looking real good. Deep enough again to withstand injuries that come along.
Thanks for the responses Gary
You’re the best Claude. My stuff is probably from way out in left field but I sure love to talk warriors and basketball in general. You’re always great about asking for opinions so I appreciate it and I also love reading your opinions too !! You know your stuff and keep it coming, I love talking Hoops with Die Hard Warrior fans like you.
P.B.J…Peanut Butter and Jelly?
Baldwin probably won’t play next season. They are holding him back until his ankle is fully healed. No need to rush him.
Warriors can only give Suns or Heat a trade sample for Durant
Wiggins all star
Poole rising star
Wiseman future star
2 unprotected Firsts
Once a quitter, always a quitter! He’s old and injury proned! No KD ever again !!!
Sean HighkinLol, Lol. You can’t believe anything that joke says.