After two disappointing campaigns of missing the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors have resurfaced as a championship contender. With elite defense, strong depth, and better health than years prior, they’ve stabilized and won 42 of their first 59 contests. That’s good enough for the 2nd-best record in the Western Conference and the NBA in general.
Bob Meyers and his front office staff have done an exceptional job rebuilding this powerhouse through trades, free agency, and especially the draft. It’s tremendously impressive, considering not long ago the organization won three championships during their five consecutive Finals appearances but then lost their two-time Finals MVP along with most of their role players. And now they are now back on top with a fresh supporting cast.
The Golden State Warriors are 42-17, talented enough for second place in the Western Conference and to be considered NBA championship contenders, but after a quiet trade deadline, are the Warriors really done building?
Andrew Wiggins, acquired around this time two years ago, has revived his offensive game and been a devastating defender for the franchise, emerging into not just an NBA All-Star, but an All-Star starter.
Jordan Poole, drafted 28th overall in 2019, has developed into a real bucket-getter who’s also comfortable leading the offense. Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, free agent signings from this past summer, have fit into the Warriors scheme like a glove, spacing the floor and creating shot opportunities off-the-dribble.
Coach Steve Kerr and his assistants deserve a lot of the credit too for keeping the team’s strategies in-tact despite the ever-changing parts. Guys like Damion Lee, Gary Payton II, and Juan Toscano-Anderson have each maximized their unique skillsets and learned how to cooperate with the team’s stars. Seventh overall pick Jonathan Kuminga has looked less like a project as of late and is now one of Kerr’s most versatile weapons to play with.
And of course, the Hall-of-Fame trio is worthy of much praise as well. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have demonstrated stellar leadership both on the floor and in the locker room, making the Warriors one of the league’s most unbreakable units. The returning Klay Thompson has shaken off two and a half years of rust and been a jolt of offense for a team suddenly in need of one, too.
Golden State is full steam ahead towards a Western Conference Finals showdown against the Phoenix Suns, and they have legitimate aspirations of winning their fourth championship in eight years. But after not making a single trade during one of the busiest deadline periods in recent memory, are the Warriors as they appear now really fit to take home the crown?
I’m not fully convinced, and some Warriors fans may be thinking the same, so fortunately we can look to the newly-shaped buyout market and see if there are any pieces that could add value to the playoff roster. And before you ask, despite a league-leading team payroll of $175 million, the Warriors are still not hard-capped and can thus make a signing.
Here are four (realistic) buyout candidates that would make the Golden State Warriors a more secure championship contender.