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Official Guide To Fixing The Warriors

It’s no secret that the Warriors have major questions to answer. The easiest one to point to would be Klay Thompson; we all know he’s their number one priority. Then, there are other players—like Andrew Wiggins, Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, and so forth.

What if we went deeper? Golden State wants to remain competitive and actively compete for a championship, which makes sense as they don’t want to waste the final years of Stephen Curry. But how’s that done exactly?

In today’s deep dive, I will be exploring how the Warriors can get better through free agency, in general trades, and seeing how they can build the best roster imaginable. I’ll be going position by position, building a competent lineup.

Can the Warriors use the draft to their advantage?

The draft will not be helping Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s team at all; that’s the simplest way of putting it. Golden State does not own a first-round pick; this year’s pick went to the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s looking like a lottery pick at either the 13th or 14th spot of the draft, which is great for Joe Cronin – who now has two lottery picks.

However, the Warriors don’t have any good draft picks, and I don’t believe they will give up mild-big assets to be part of this lottery draft. This is deemed the “weakest draft” in a very long time.

Their only pick is a most likely late second-round pick that will have little to no value in the grand scheme of this draft. It’s not like they are going to get a worthy asset or put this pick in something to get a worthy asset, so this draft is useless to them.

For them, this will be purely in the trade and free agency markets. Plus, making decisions on their core players or supporting players.

Real quick, what are the positional needs for the Warriors?

Depth is a huge area of concern for Golden State, especially for their front court. The point guard position is manageable, but the power forward and center position needs some love.

Trayce Jackson-Davis showed great potential in his rookie season as a starting center, but it would be smart to get a legitimate backup that allows Jackson-Davis to not only grow under but also for the Warriors to actually have solid minutes in that role.

Jackson-Davis fits Steve Kerr’s scheme better than James Wiseman’s, which is why it allowed him to gain some good minutes and show glimpses of his two-way abilities.

If Draymond Green is moved, which he will be in this article, they need to upgrade and add to their four position. Honestly, even if they kept Green as their starter and Jonathan Kuminga as their backup, there is still a serious lack of depth, with the minutes not being as productive as they could be for their frontcourt.

So, in short, there are two main concerns positionally: power forward and center.

Jonathan Kuminga: his price tag and if the Warriors need him

Wrapping up on his third season, Kuminga has demonstrated time and time again how important he can be to a winning organization. To say the Warriors don’t need him would be ridiculous, as he’s shown major signs of being able to help Curry in tight situations or championship-defining situations.

He’s made fantastic leaps in this career year in points (16.1), rebounds (4.8), and assists (2.2). His shooting splits are also very good, and he is proving to the league he has a place on a potential, or certified, championship-caliber team.

In his first two seasons, he needed to prove he was worth the Warriors spending a lottery pick on. Now, he’s exploded onto the scene and is now letting the fanbase reap the benefits of their patience and his extremely high ceiling.

So, in what I’m trying to say, pay the man.

What will his price tag be?

It’ll probably be $30 million a season, which is $3.8 million higher than Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels received. For reference, he earned himself a five-year, $131 million deal. The reason why I bring up McDaniels is because of how many analysts and fans are comparing him to Kuminga.

I love McDaniels’s game. However, Kuminga is the far superior player and could command a significant contract. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were a five-year, $150 million extension. As much money as that is, and it’s a lot, for an on-the-cusp superstar (or superstar), that’s cheap money.

To put it in perspective of how up-and-coming (potential) superstars have gotten paid, look at the example of Jalen Brunson. On average, he makes $26 million a season. After leaving Dallas, he signed with New York on a four-year, $104 million deal.

This isn’t hidden potential; this is known potential, which is why Kuminga will be paid more than McDaniels and Brunson.

Chris Paul: what GSW needs to do

Heavy decisions must be made: do you pay the Point God $30 million or not? Paul is in the final year of his contract, but it is non-guaranteed. That’s critical to know, as the Warriors would have to decide whether to pay or get rid of him. It’s what the Phoenix Suns did when throwing him in the Bradley Beal trade.

On June 28th, the money becomes fully guaranteed. They are racing against the clock with key stressors of lowering their payroll, maintaining quality status, and looking at the bigger picture involving Curry.

As much as I love Chris Paul and his aspirations of winning a ring, it can’t be done in The Bay. The $30 million isn’t worth his age and potentially rapid regression; they need someone younger and a veteran with different abilities.

It’s time to shred the salary and get a credible point guard; the Warriors need a point guard who isn’t a shoot-first guard, which is more prevalent in our league than what’s been noticed. They need someone who’s somewhat cheap and can pick up where Paul left off.

Because Paul made great contributions during his run with the Warriors, he helped Curry, but it’s time to move on.

Here’s who the Warriors should target…

Spencer Dinwiddie is a great replacement to continue reducing Curry’s floor time. Paul allowed Curry to rest more this season, and I believe this can continue under Dinwiddie.

He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, which is great for Golden State. Dinwiddie has had a rough season, whether for the Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Lakers. I say all this to say they can get him on a team-friendly deal, and I can see a quick one-two year deal for Golden State.

He’s a player who can be a floor general, succeed in a point guard dominant role, and be a critical facilitator for Steve Kerr’s team.

The 31-year-old had a stint of 26 games for Brooklyn, where he averaged 9.1 assists, so he has the potential to thrive in that role. Golden State has a lot of shooters and shot creators, but they need someone like Dinwiddie who can create shots and make shooters shoot.

Why wouldn’t the Warriors want to get a somewhat cheap and reliable playmaker? It’d be better than Paul.

The Warriors need a wing player

Is adding a wing their biggest priority? Yes and no. In terms of depth and quality bench players, it does make sense. Plus, if the Warriors want to be strong overall, they must focus on their wings. For the longest time this season, they focused on adding a center and a wing.

If I were the general manager of the Warriors, I would want an offensive surge with juice in my second unit. That is why I would sign Lonnie Walker IV, a player who has underperformed and dealt with injuries. His wallet will let you know that he isn’t getting top-tier money; in fact, it’s more like minimum-tier money.

That’s great for the team, as they’ll be able to get another cheap player who can score and bring life to their second unit. This season, the Warriors looked slow, with their wheels falling off, but add him, and it can add life. For reference, he’s only 25 years old and ready to work.

The team could probably get him for a one-year, $2 million deal or, at worst, a one-year, $3 million deal.

It’s time to part ways with Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is one-half of the Splash Brothers, along with Stephen Curry, and he has a living legacy with Golden State. However, to be successful in this non-rebuild restart, Mike Dunleavy is going to have to make the tough decision of saying to Thompson, “Have a great rest of your career; we wish you well!”

It wasn’t him going 0-10 in an elimination game or being benched; it was the fact that he was highly inconsistent and letting his emotions run high. You can tell it affected the locker room and the way the Warriors executed their game plan to win games.

How the 34-year-old performed this season doesn’t warrant a four-year, $223 million extension. It didn’t help him when he turned down a two-year, $48 million extension and thought he could earn more through his play. If anything, his play has decreased his value significantly.

Between his unfortunate injury history and inconsistencies across the bar, this is a clear warning that the Warriors must get out of the Klay Thompson business.

With all that being said, who replaces Thompson?

It’s time to trade Andrew Wiggins…

Wiggins’s first three years with the Warriors were great; they were productive, team-beneficial, and championship-level. However, like Thompson, all good things must come to an end. These past two years have been rough, confusing, and downright sad.

It was going great, without a doubt, but the team is no longer clicking with Wiggins. But you know what guy would click with the Warriors? Dejounte Murray. Funny enough, the Atlanta Hawks are either trading him or Trae Young.

There are several factors as to why Golden State was taking offers from the Dallas Mavericks and other teams involving Wiggins this past deadline, and the same with Chris Paul. So it makes sense as to why they are trading him now.

It is pretty realistic for both sides to come together and get a deal done. Golden State would obviously get Wiggins, but Atlanta will receive Wiggins, Kevon Looney, and a 2026 first-round pick.

Atlanta needs help in their frontcourt, with Looney filling out the bench with his vital role, but Wiggins gives Young another weapon to utilize.

You are now replacing an aging, regressing Thompson with a young, in-his-prime player. That’s a win, team-speaking and positionally speaking.

Trade Draymond Green… IMMEDIATELY

Who wants to talk about Draymond Green being a locker-room cancer? While I already detailed how Green has destroyed their morale, locker room, and dynasty, there is no good reason to keep him because if he can’t play basketball anymore and is doing his off-and-on court antics, then he must be gone.

Former general manager Bob Myers was backed into a corner where he had no choice but to sign him. However, it’s time to move on and make sure the cancer is gone.

With all that being said, who can they trade for? One name that is very popular in my mind is Jerami Grant, a player who formerly played for the Detroit Pistons and now for the Portland Trail Blazers.

My trade proposal:

The Warriors are obviously getting Grant, but the Blazers are getting Green, Gary Payton II, and a 2028 first-round pick.

We know why this helps Golden State, but this helps Portland in so many ways. It gives them a veteran presence surrounding their young players, and Payton gives them backcourt depth.

Also, if taking Green and his gigantic contract is really depressing, then Golden State can sweeten the pot with the valuable pick.

In the end, I believe this to be a win-win. Mainly for the Warriors, this would complete their starting lineup.

The new starting lineup:

Point Guard: Stephen Curry
Shooting Guard: Dejounte Murray
Small Forward: Jerami Grant
Power Forward: Jonathan Kuminga
Center: Trayce Jackson-Davis

Here are the backups to each position:

Point Guard: Spencer Dinwiddie
Shooting Guard: Lonnie Walker IV, Brandin Podziemski
Small Forward: Kelly Oubre Jr., Moses Moody
Power Forward: Tauren Prince, Thaddeus Young
Center: Mason Plumlee, Usman Garuba

This first and second lineup is very complimentary for each player, as the first unit will be able to dismantle and/or keep it close to other championship-level teams like the Denver Nuggets or Boston Celtics.

The backcourt won’t be disrupted like it was with Murray and Young. Murray and Curry will be able to play off each other, and neither really needs the ball in their hand to contribute. This is the ultimate safety net for the starting lineup because if one or two players aren’t feeling it, then there is always a fall-on man they can count on.

Fans don’t see that with many teams in the league; in fact, that’s what separates the winners from the losers. Steve Kerr would be excited to have this roster. Still a great mixture of young talent and seasoned talent.

Let’s not forget about the second unit; great life and contributions can be made from this lineup. I’ve already mentioned the benefits of Dinwiddie and Walker, but adding players like Plumlee, Young, and Prince will give them great defense, paint protection, and penalty.

Oubre is a great addition for sparking offense and being a game-changer, a difference-maker when it matters the most.

To say the least, both units are absolutely amazing.

Conclusion

This is CourtSideHeat’s official guide to not-rebuilding-rebuilding the Golden State Warriors. I honestly believe this is the only way to keep them competitive without having to sacrifice another one of Curry’s seasons.

They weeded out the regressing (or downright bad… Draymond) players and replaced them with a fresher combo of younger and more seasoned players. There are no more flooring issues, minutes won’t fluctuate for key players, positions will matter, defense isn’t lost, and a bench that can beat out other benches.

Golden State only needs an offseason to get themselves right and to make themselves competitive again; this is entirely possible through trades and signings. Easier said than done? Sure, but they are one of the most successful dynasties in basketball history. They can do it.