“It’s a different challenge, as opposed to taking a team at the bottom and building,” Dunleavy said. “This job is, ‘Hey, we want to keep it going.’ That’s a challenge, but it’s one that I’m comfortable with and that I’m up for. But, yeah, it’s a lot of work.”
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t shy away from the challenge of taking over a dynasty in decline, writes Ann Killion of The San Francisco Chronicle. When former GM Bob Myers opted to leave the organization last summer, Dunleavy inherited the job of running a team with aging veterans and a record tax bill. The results in his first year have been mixed, as Golden State — two years off its last championship — needed a late surge just to secure a play-in spot.
Dunleavy made a big move in his first days on the job, Killion adds, getting rid of Jordan Poole‘s contract by trading him to Washington for long-time Warriors rival Chris Paul. Dunleavy also landed two rotation pieces on draft night by selecting Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Up next is a challenging offseason that will include a crucial decision involving Klay Thompson, who’s headed for free agency after 13 years with the team.
“It’s just evaluating and seeing where we end up,” Dunleavy said. “Then, when it’s all said and done, we’ll see what decisions we need to make. But on the whole I think we have a good idea of what this team is and what we need moving forward.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Dunleavy explained his decision to stand pat at the trade deadline, telling Killion that Draymond Green‘s suspension factored into it. Green had recently been reinstated by the league, and Dunleavy was reluctant to pursue a major deal without seeing the full team together. “You certainly see how much we need him on the court,” Dunleavy said. “We’re not the same team without him. We’re really committed to this roster and felt like we just needed more time to jell. I don’t know of any trade that could have made us better.”
- Dunleavy is determined to keep Stephen Curry with the Warriors for the rest of his career, Killion adds. The 36-year-old guard is under contract through the 2025/26 season. “I would say there’s nothing taxing about Steph — I’ll take that guy any day of the week, at any point in his career,” Dunleavy said. “We have to figure out how we build around him, because he’s going to be here — he’s going to be here forever. We have to take that all into account. But there’s a lot worse guys you could see the tail end of their career with.”
- Jonathan Kuminga sat out Friday’s game and is listed as questionable for Sunday with a right pelvic contusion he suffered in Thursday’s contest, per Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He fell and kind of bruised his tailbone and is in a lot of pain,” coach Steve Kerr said. Curry, Thompson, Green and Paul are also questionable, while Gary Payton II is out, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Killion is overrated. She’s touchy feelie with average knowledge of the sports she covers. Her knowledge is on the level of most readers on this site. Which is not meant to insult the readers. It’s intended to state that she seems to have sports intelligence when in fact it’s limited. How she feels isn’t necessarily related to fact. Long story short, let’s hear what a knowledgeable basketball writer thinks and doesn’t feel.
Claude, you’re so right. Your Pulitzer Prize and other awards put these pretend sports writers to shame. Keep up the great work.
GSW desperately need to make some serious changes this offseason.
Long gone are the days of the big 3 and the dynasty they had is over. You’ve still got one of the best players in the league with Steph Curry and with some new faves around him you could still compete at a high level.
You’re right S>R – Look at their stars:
Stephen Curry – Just turned 36 (How the hell is he already 36?)
Klay Thompson – 34 and sinking fast
Draymond Green – 34 and loosing his mind
Chris Paul – almost 39 and about done
The only question is when they’ll face into a full rebuild.
Mike drafted well and has done a good job but trading for Chris Paul was a huge mistake. A team full of small guards and undersized PFs. Should of flipped Paul for anything, a year supply of TP would of been a better investment than trading and keeping Paul.
Trading for Paul and his 1-year contract will allow them to reset this summer. Without that trade they still have three more years of Jordan Poole at 30 million per season.
I think it was an EXCELLENT trade. It’s good for this season as you bring in a veteran who could help and it’s good for the future because you can bring in someone else other than Jordan Poole who was pushed out of town obviously.
They let go of Poole who was homegrown 6th man ( yes expensive contract) Baldwin who they drafted and could of been someone maybe, Rollins who is a rich thief dummy ( who the Bucks shouldn’t of been given another chance so quick. That bad luck plus signing Rivers has ruined the Bucks season) and a future 1st and 2nd.
If they still make that trade then they could of flipped Paul for something else or waive him and most of his contract wouldn’t count.
They need a starting C with Looney backing him up(either as old as Wiggins or older)
Why get Paul to backup Curry? Plus Paul has been doing dirty cheap shots like Draymond and Jokic.
Why trade for Paul to backup Curry. Even curry looks annoyed by Paul doing things like yapping in a hallway
Paul has played beyond expectations. People who say it was a bad trade obviously don’t watch the games. His per minute stats are very good. Losing Poole is addition by subtraction. They’re not in play in game without Paul and with Poole. A poster said Green has “lost his mind”. He’s also playing excellent. it’s just a Green hate comment. My problem with Killion is her “mixed results” comment. How can you judge Dunleavy after all of the team issues–Wiggins Green etc. In the past she has been very critical of the Poole stuff. Why? Not for basketball reasons–its for emotional reasons. I agree Gary. Anyone critical of the Poole Paul trade hasn’t watched
Poole was a mistake at that price. Paul got us off the hook. Rollins and the other kid barely played on a bad team. Poole had his worst year by far too
How are they going to reset when they still have 175 mil on the books next year?
Reset and replace the Jordan Poole salary spot which would have been for THREE MORE YEARS.
If you don’t trade him last summer, you’re stuck with him. Can’t they replace Paul and Klay Thompson with other players, younger players next season?
This team was doomed when they traded for Cp3…
It didn’t make sense on paper and still doesn’t…
They might luck their way to the conference finals, but they’re gonna need a lot of luck…
Warriors fans should just enjoy the mediocrity whilst the teams title winning core finishes their careers…
Given how Poole played and CP3’s expiring giving value, it made perfect sense.
I hope Dunleavy realizes that the team needs height and rim protection.
Rim protection is a funny animal. It’s handy to have but I think what some teams find is that perhaps perimeter defense on the drives slips a little because of the big guy on the floor.
On the other hand, when you don’t have a rim protector the defense from all five steps up if they’re serious about winning. Everyone is in lockdown mode because there is no eraser behind you to bail you out and correct your poor effort.
Is this why the Warriors haven’t had Rim protection the last 5 years? I think you’re right, they should consider it.
Javale McGee provided it, Bogut of course, but not much Zaza Pachulia or Bjelica.., but the Rings came when we had a shot blocker.
Rings came when we had the long and smart defenders. Livingston and Iggy. Heck even Porter. They don’t need a 7 footer. They need guys who play team defense and have a brain. These younger kids have a shot. I like our younger core. TJD is gonna play a huge roll in the future.
Hmm I wonder which direction they were possibly leaning pre deadline w trades