LAS VEGAS – Top free agents are not any longer available and rosters are mostly full because the league convenes for Summer League in Las Vegas.
For the Warriors, a series of moves has seen Chris Paul and franchise legend Klay Thompson transformed into De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield. Golden State improved with 12 capable supporting players and bolstered its coaching staff with Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse.
General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is worked up concerning the group. Assuming it is identical team that starts the season, the Warriors have a very good likelihood of improving on their record from last 12 months (46-36).
But even at the moment of summer, that remains to be an assumption.
“You're always looking around the league, talking to teams, scouting things,” Dunleavy said. “I like our team, but there are also some things we can look at to improve it. We'll continue to do that leading up to training camp and the season.”
The biggest opportunity for improvement could be a blockbuster trade for Lauri Markkanen, for whom the Jazz have reportedly received offers. Markkanen is eligible to increase with the Jazz on August 6, which sets a man-made deadline for the trade – if it ever happens.
Markkanen is one in all the sport's best scorers and is at his best at 27. The Jazz and CEO Danny Ainge would likely be impressed by a suggestion to part ways with him.
The Warriors have reportedly made the Jazz a sizeable offer, but unless they can land Markkanen or a player of comparable caliber, no expert is considering them as a contender within the crowded West. Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota and Dallas make up the elite top of the conference, but Memphis, Sacramento, Phoenix, New Orleans and the 2 Los Angeles teams are also firmly within the running.
But by signing Anderson, Melton, Hield and possibly internal reinforcements like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors could easily join that second group.
“I think it's a little bit like last year. I thought we had a better team than the year before,” Dunleavy said. “I think the same thing this year. But what does that mean? Last year the record was better and we didn't make the playoffs. I think we'll be better, we should be better, but a lot depends on it: health, chemistry, all that.”
Especially without Thompson, who ranked fourth within the NBA in 3-pointers made last 12 months, space allocation can be paramount. Lineups that included all three – Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kuminga – struggled last 12 months.
“I think from a shooter's perspective, Buddy really helps beat Klay,” Dunleavy Jr. said. “But beyond that, I think there's room for others to improve,” Dunleavy said. “In terms of volume and accuracy, we want guys that shoot more threes. That can be internally, with Moses (Moody), Wiggs, BP, JK — all those guys can make shots.”
Coaching could also help improve margins. Stotts brings experience as a head coach and Stackhouse will bring the attitude of a former player. Aside from Atkinson, who left to educate the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dunleavy expects the remaining of last 12 months's team to return. That means the bench will include Bruce Fraser, Ron Adams, Chris DeMarco, Kris Weems, Anthony Vereen, Hilston Armstrong and Jacob Rubin.
Nevertheless, the Warriors' goal stays to surround Steph Curry with as much talent as possible.
Curry, 36, is representing the United States on the Paris Olympics. He was named to the All-NBA third team last 12 months and continues to be a top-notch offensive machine.
The franchise owes it to Curry to stay competitive so long as he stays at this level.
“That's clearly the most important thing,” Dunleavy said. “In this league, you want to take advantage of those time horizons. And with Steph and Draymond still at a really high level, that's obviously important. So we have to be careful in the decisions we make to stay at that championship level. That includes drafting, trades, signings – all of those things.”
I believe that's why we added the last one with Buddy. We went over the tax on that. We're serious about winning. Joe (Lacob) walks the talk. So to your query about whether we will reap the benefits of Steph's prime, we're going to try.”
image credit : www.mercurynews.com