Pre-Draft Outlook
The Warriors took a bold strategy the last few years and decided to infuse youth into a rotation with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the championship tested core. They managed to win a championship a season ago, so this blueprint didn’t prevent them from the ultimate prize. But after losing in the West semifinals in 2023 and seeing at least two of those core veterans (Thompson and Green) regress just a bit, the Warriors need to enhance the rotation while Curry remains in his prime. The best way is with a trade for established help as free agency is out of the question for a team well beyond the salary cap. Also, the Warriors must decide on their future with Thompson and most urgently Green, who has an option for 2023-24.
The Way To Go
Will the No. 18 overall pick plus Jordan Poole fetch a significant player in a trade? It’s worth it for the Warriors to explore that option, especially if they feel Poole, whose extension begins next season, is better off somewhere else. Another team might be willing to bite because the pick is decent, and Poole could shake free from a poor 2022-23 season to become a lively scorer once again. Of course, the other option is to keep Poole and the pick. If so, the Warriors could use more size. In 2022-23, they leaned heavily on Kevon Looney and JaMychal Green, neither of whom are natural centers. Duke 7-footer Dereck Lively might be an option is he’s around. If if the Warriors do go big, they need to show more patience with that pivotman than they did with James Wiseman.
— Shaun Powell
Here’s a quick look at who the Golden State Warriors have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Stephen Curry
G: Moses Moody
G: Gary Payton II
G: Jordan Poole
G: Ryan Rollins
G: Klay Thompson
F: Patrick Baldwin Jr.
F: Jonathan Kuminga
F: Kevon Looney
F: Andrew Wiggins
Free Agents
G: Donte DiVincenzo (player option)
G: Lester Quinones (two-way)
G/F: Andre Iguodala (unrestricted)
G/F: Ty Jerome (two-way)
F: Anthony Lamb (restricted)
F: Draymond Green (player option)
F/C: JaMychal Green (unrestricted)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Patrick Baldwin Jr. (28), Ryan Rollins (44)*, Tyrese Martin (51)**, Gui Santos (55)
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal