Even though the Warriors missed the opportunity to sign Lauri Markkanen and Paul George, the franchise is still in a good position to expand its roster.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein in his latest Substack, Golden State can sign another outstanding player through a trade.
“Golden State is planning its next moves after unsuccessful attempts to sign Paul George and Lauri Markkanen this offseason,” Stein said. “Team officials believe they are well positioned for a trade in the next year or so after responding to the free agent departure of Curry’s longtime backcourt mate Klay Thompson by signing Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton to short-term deals and retaining all of their draft picks.”
“There is a clear feeling at Chase Center that the Clippers and Jazz did not really want to do business with the Warriors, despite numerous discussions with both teams.”
Golden State faces an uncertain future following the departure of Klay Thompson, although it is clear that Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob intend to sign another superstar through a trade, as evidenced by the reported pursuit of LeBron James last season.
With Steph Curry continuing to play at an extremely high level, the Warriors need to fill the void left by Thompson and consider another true scorer.
Stein noted that this uncertainty will continue to hang over the franchise as the 2024-25 NBA season begins.
“There are certainly challenges ahead. Curry, Draymond Green and Warriors coach Steve Kerr have not yet truly grappled with the reality that Thompson is no longer part of the organization they all hoped he would never leave,” Stein wrote. “Now the hope is that the golden summer Curry and Kerr enjoyed together will provide a permanent hedge for what could be a complicated winter (and maybe even spring) as Golden State continues to truly reshape itself.”
With players like Curry and Green on the roster, Golden State still has the potential to make the playoffs, but unless one of the team’s younger players develops into an All-Star talent, it will be difficult to make progress in the crowded Western Conference.
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