After being linked to big-name trade targets like Paul George and Lauri Markkanen during the offseason, the Warriors ended up not making a major deal and focused instead on bringing in a handful of role players at mid-level prices, including De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Anderson. The team’s defensive anchor, Draymond Green, told reporters this week that he was on board with that decision, as Kendra Andrews of ESPN relays.
“One move in this league, it can pretty much set you up for how the next 10 years of your organization is going to go. Sometimes the best deal you can make is to not make a deal, and I think we did a great job in going out and getting pieces that are going to help this team grow,” Green said. “… Championships are won six through 10. Championships aren’t won one through five.”
Green compared the summer additions to the ones the Warriors made in 2021 when they brought in Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, and Nemanja Bjelica to bolster their depth ahead of a championship season. That doesn’t mean that Golden State will be a title team in 2024/25, but Stephen Curry believes the newcomers can help the club move toward that goal.
“All three guys we brought in all are veterans,” Curry said, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “Established veterans that know how to play the game. Good pieces that you need to be a championship-type team. Does that mean we’re there? I don’t know.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- After a disappointing 2023/24 season that saw Golden State finish 10th in the West and bow out of the postseason in the first play-in game, Curry said he’s coming into training camp with an “open mind of how we’re supposed to play” and that he’s embracing the idea of “evolving and pivoting” to figure out what works best for the current group. “I know there’s a Warriors mentality and culture of how we do things, there’s a system that we ran for a decade plus that has worked,” Curry said, according to Andrews. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that’s how this team needs to play. We have to have kind of antennas up and an openness to accept what this team’s strengths are, what our weaknesses are, and kind of lean into those.”
- Jonathan Kuminga, who is eligible for a rookie scale extension until October 21, said he will “hopefully” reach a deal with the Warriors but that he won’t be worried if it doesn’t get done this fall, Slater writes. Kuminga would be a restricted free agent in 2025 if he doesn’t sign a new deal before the season begins. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s not my concern,” he said. “I’m just happy to be here, happy to start a new season. Fourth year. I’d love to have it, but I’m not really concerned about it. If I get it, if I don’t, it’s cool. I’m still going to be me. I’ll just go out there and perform.”
- In a separate story for The Athletic, Slater evaluates the candidates for the starting shooting guard position, noting that the Warriors could go the defensive route with Melton, the floor-spacing route with Hield, or the long-term route with Brandin Podziemski.
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stressed on Tuesday that shooting guard isn’t the only opening in the Warriors’ starting lineup, telling reporters that there’s an open competition for basically every spot besides point guard, where Curry will start. “There is competition across the board,” Kerr said (story via Andrews at ESPN). “It’s not as simple as, ‘Who is going to be the two?’ It’s got to be — ‘Who is going to be the five? Who’s the four?’ We know that Steph is the one. But what’s the combination? … The starting lineup is going to have to be dependent not only on the first five fitting, but the second fitting as well. We’ve got a lot of work to do to figure out lineups. All the guys can do is compete, play their ass off.”
Dubs posters around here have been sleeping on Melton.
For the past 2 season, he started every game for Philly that he was available. He’s the perfect complement to a score-first PG like Steph, Maxey, or Harden. Defensively, only GP2 is in his class but he’s a much better shooter, and a starting-caliber PG.
We used our $12M exception on him. Only Steph, Dray, and Wiggins make more. We don’t make that move unless we plan to play him at least 20-24 mpg, which is why I believe GP2 and Moody aren’t here for long.
Yes on all that, but I’m also hoping he’s healthy. The back can be a tough one to deal with and I hope he’s recovered 100% at some point.
Melton always been a good defender which the warriors lacked defense last year. I see him and Payton competing for minutes. Both players main focus is staying healthy.
Melton also being on a playoff team last year brings good energy to a team trying to be the same. I dont agree when you say GP2 is in his class. In 2022 maybe, but not since then.
“Moody wont be here long” so you believe GSW will bring in a superstar via trade at some point before the trade deadline? That’s weird because when I say that on here I get angry replies!
Moody will be here unless a superstar trade happens, the depth is important and Melton is injury prone, Hield has no defense and Podz is too much of an unknown.
They’ll take whatever they can get for Moody. Are you extending him for the money he probably wants? Will you lose him in restricted free agency when another team signs him based on potential.., even though he’s been around 4 years?
If the Warriors go over the cap building a championship contender then you can forget about sign and trade for Moses Moody. He will walk for nothing if you don’t trade him by the deadline.
The tougher decision is JK. Extend him? Match his restricted free agency next summer? Interesting to see what the Warriors decide.
If Kuminga plays up to his potential the warriors will match his contract. Moddy most likely gets traded at deadline unless he has a break out season.
GSW is toast unless Wiggins plays at a high level. We shall see l
you can say that about every team. Celtics are toast unless Tatum plays at a high level.