As Warriors owner Joe Lacob emphasized in February, Golden State will do whatever it takes to be in the best position to compete for NBA championships.
Now, as the offseason approaches, that theme seems likely to continue, especially after the Warriors failed to make the 2024 playoffs following an NBA Play-In tournament loss to the Sacramento Kings in April.
In a story published Thursday, the athletic one Anthony Slater detailed why Golden State may have a busy offseason.
“There is nothing imminent or even profound in the works, but the transaction days are approaching quickly,” Slater prefaced. “There continue to be signs that the Warriors front office intends to be aggressive and willing to shake up the core, feeling that this group was given the opportunity to stay together at the last trade deadline and it didn’t even result in a place in the playoffs.
The Warriors need all the star power they can get to support 36-year-old superstar Steph Curry. Additionally, no one knows if Golden State’s 13-year veteran Klay Thompson will return.
Golden State showed its willingness to make major adjustments when it traded Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards for fellow player Chris Paul last summer. While it was a surprising move at the time, it did not produce the desired results.
Regardless of what the Warriors do, it will be a struggle as the franchise must manage the luxury tax.
“What will that materialize into? That’s hard to figure out without knowing what will be available to them and how exactly they plan to navigate the luxury tax,” Slater continued. “The Warriors have expressed their desire to avoid it altogether, if the opportunity presents itself, but indicate they will remain there if there is a move they believe will put them back in contention.
“What move or player would qualify? Could this end up being a step-back season even if it doesn’t broadcast that way?”
Lacob wants to get Golden State out of the luxury tax, which it exceeded by $88.4 million during the 2023-24 NBA season.
However, he wants to win titles and is willing to bring in more names with big contracts if they align with the Warriors’ aspirations and schedule. After all, Golden State had the Los Angeles Lakers‘ phones ringing near the NBA trade deadline to end a deal for rival LeBron James.
The Warriors could use another superstar, but they also have to be realistic. Slater listed one player he thinks Golden State could consider trying to acquire from the Eastern Conference:
Two brief situations of note: “If (New Orleans Pelicans forward) Brandon Ingram hits the trade market, I wouldn’t expect the Warriors to show interest,” Slater concluded. “If (Miami) Heat (forward) Jimmy Butler, I’d expect the Warriors to come into the conversation at least to some extent.”
Butler, coming off a season in which he averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5 assists, is an attractive two-way option to pair with Curry if possible. However, the Miami star is 34 years old and has recently dealt with injuries and general fatigue.
Golden State has no choice but to do something this offseason, as the team as it stands will not be enough during the 2024-25 season.
Certainly, Slater believes something is brewing in San Francisco. Who knows if Dub Nation will see Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green take the floor again as Warriors teammates?
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