It was all a dream.
That LeBron James would join the Golden State Warriors after once facing them in four epic NBA Finals (2015-18). That James would play with Stephen Curry for something as memorable as the 2024 Paris Olympics gold-medal run. That James would also partner with Draymond Green, a former adversary, current friend and ally that delayed his free agency to give the Warriors additional cap space to secure James. That Steve Kerr’s bravado to a Warriors fan that they signed James was more than just the Warriors’ coach trolling playfully while sitting in traffic.
Instead, the Warriors struck out on their main free-agency target. After once causing league-wide envy for their dynastic run filled with four NBA championships, generational talent and strong organizational depth, the Warriors currently seem light years behind. That’s because their Plan B likely involves retaining their main roster that couldn’t advance past last season’s Play-In tournament. That’s because there aren’t many game-changing free agents available. That’s because they don’t have many assets beyond draft picks to make many significant moves.
Hence, the Warriors’ next pivot will likely entail the following scenarios. Hope that Curry will still provide elite shooting, playmaking and leadership. Retain Green, trust that he will still defend at an All-NBA level and that public trash talking with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg won’t lead into any serious tension. Lean on Kristaps Porzingis’ stellar passing, scoring versatility and spacing. Stay competitive until Jimmy Butler returns possibly midway through the season after rehabbing his right ACL since January. Foster Lendeborg’s intriguing upside with his two-way versatility. Try to acquire some decent talent through free agency (DeMar DeRozan) or trades (Trey Murphy). All while holding onto their draft capital for future deals. All while banking that their veteran-laden team can stay reasonably healthy.
It all seems like a flimsy house of cards.
The Warriors had a 25-19 record and the fourth-highest defensive rating (112.2) before Butler’s season-ending injury. That has convinced the Warriors they actually have a title-contending roster. But it seems foolish to bank on a 36-year-old Butler remaining just as effective after returning from an injury that has altered numerous NBA players’ careers, including former Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Porzingis has become a dependable plug-and-play complementary piece around star players, including his 2024 NBA title run with the Boston Celtics. But it seems naïve to think Porzingis can stay healthy consistently even when accounting for the Warriors’ strong medical staff and his own progress in recent years to improve his postural stability.
Lendeborg won’t face the same limitations as the Warriors’ failed draft picks in James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga. But even if Lendeborg makes a significant impact his rookie season, it’s unfair to expect he will become the main factor in elevating the Warriors’ season. Lastly, bank on Curry and Green’s enduring play, chemistry and relationship equity. But though both players have proven they can still keep the Warriors in the mix, they have not shown that’s enough to make a serious playoff push since last winning an NBA title four years ago.
Will the Warriors do enough to help Steph Curry?
Because of this backdrop, Warriors fans have become increasingly frustrated that the franchise has needlessly squandered Curry’s title window. Some believe Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob cares more about maximizing their long-term future following Curry’s eventual retirement than maximizing their current present with Curry still playing at an All-Star caliber level. It doesn’t help that the Sixers acquired both James and Jaylen Brown this offseason because of a familiar person. That would be Bob Myers, the president of the Sixers’ ownership group (Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment) after previously serving as the Warriors’ longtime general manager (2012-23).
It’s not clear to what extent the Warriors tried to acquire Brown when the Celtics dangled him in trade talks. But it seems doubtful the Celtics would have interest in Green or Butler along a handful of draft picks. Green has played a key role in the Warriors’ four NBA titles, but his value means more to the Warriors considering how well he complements Curry. Butler wouldn’t be available for at least half the season, and he likely wouldn’t be the best version of himself anyway. Thought the Celtics questionably banked on a 36-year-old Paul George to become consistent with his play and health, that move seems less risky than inheriting anything the Warriors could realistically offer.
As for James, he certainly found it enticing to play with Curry and Green out of respect for their basketball IQ and championship experience. James had initially floated that he hoped to be able to spend more time with his wife (Savannah) and daughter (Zuri), making it theoretically possible for James to stay in nearby Los Angeles during the team’s offdays. James would have loved to team up again with Anthony Davis, but the Wizards have not made him available in trade talks. The Warriors also didn’t consider it worth it to deal their first-round picks to Davis considering his injury history.
Therefore, it’s not about beating up on the Warriors for missing out on potential moves this summer with either Brown, James or both. This illustrates, though that the Warriors seem boxed in with their current circumstances. Three years after Kevin Durant left the Warriors as a free agent, the Warriors won an NBA title partly because they made the best of Durant’s departure. Myers oversaw the Warriors dealing Durant to Brooklyn in a sign-and-trade for D’Angelo Russell, which they flipped a season later to Minnesota for Andrew Wiggins and a first-round pick. The Warriors smartly drafted and groomed Jordan Poole. Myers oversaw the Warriors misfiring with their No. 2 pick in 2020 (Wiseman) and No. 7 pick in Kuminga (2022). But the Warriors still had enough with Curry and Green’s enduring excellence, Wiggins’ complementary role, Poole’s growth and Thompson’s somewhat promising return from injury.
The Warriors couldn’t sustain that championship play. Green’s pre-season punch toward Poole certainly didn’t help chemistry. But the Warriors eventually invested more in Green for his enduring defense and soured on Poole for his inconsistent play and team-oriented habits. Thompson no longer looked like the elite two-way player before his two season-ending injuries. Wiggins struggled to play as effectively both because of health and inconsistent play. Following a second-round exit to the Los Angeles in 2023, the Warriors dealt Poole to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul and Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks in a sign-and-trade for Josh Green and two second-round picks. None of those moves materialized into anything. But the Warriors finally felt like they were back in the title mix after acquiring Butler from Miami with Wiggins as the centerpiece leading into 2025 trade deadline.
That helped the Warriors go 23-7 with Butler and sneak into the Play-In tournament as a seventh seed. They survived a seven-game first-round series against the second-seeded Houston Rockets. But they lost to the Wolves in five games mostly because Curry suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Game 1. The Warriors appeared ready to contend again last season up until Butler’s season-ending injury. That unraveled everything. They couldn’t entice the Bucks to listen to any trade offers for Antetokounmpo. The Warriors settled on acquiring Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks for Kuminga and Buddy Hield. But without Butler, the Warriors could only win one Play-In game.
Two months later, the Warriors appear only slightly better simply because their main core has had time to heal this offseason. But what about when the season actually starts? The Warriors simply hope to stay competitive enough before finding a better market leading into the trade deadline. Then and now, the Warriors’ front office need to become more aggressive and creative out of respect for Curry, his enduring play and his graceful loyalty.