A ton of moves have been made in the offseason, and there will be many familiar faces in unfamiliar places. The Golden State Warriors, for one, had an active offseason. No significant moves, but rotation players have shuffled around, and the roster appears to be heading in a new direction.
The Warriors missed the postseason two years in a row. Now they hope the changes made this offseason will alter that ending, but it's the same feeling the organization had the year before. Once the injury bug hit, things took a turn for the worst, which is why for the past two years, the Warriors had three lottery picks.
Warriors Offseason Grades
NBA Draft Moves: A-
In this year's NBA Draft, the Warriors won the no. 7 and no. 14 overall picks. The team was pleasantly surprised to see 18-year-old Jonathan Kuminga still on the board at 7th overall. Kuminga played for the G-League Ignite Team. Unlike the college players in the draft class, he already has some experience with the atmosphere of the NBA. It's not the actual same level as the NBA, but playing under the same rules and pace proved beneficial in the NBA Summer League. Kuminga averaged 17.4, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in five games.
Then with their 14th overall pick, the Warriors selected Moses Moody from Arkansas. The Warriors expected him to be off the board by this time as well. When it was time to make their pick, they didn't hesitate in sending in their selection. Moody is a shooter, and if he can consistently knock down corner three-pointers, it could earn him minutes in the rotation. In the NBA Summer League, he showed he's a better shot creator than most expected. Moody is a prospect who Warriors fans should be very excited to have.
The Warriors got both of the players they wanted before the NBA Draft. Do they have the best players that were possible at the time? Only time will tell.
Free Agent Acquisitions: B-
As soon as free agency began, several players signed with a new team or returned to their old squad. You didn't hear about anything happening with the Warriors mainly because they have no cap space to do anything unless it's a sign-and-trade scenario. Kent Bazemore, a key member of last year's team, decided to go to rival Los Angeles Lakers, and it looked like an immediate negative hit. Then before the first night ended, the Warriors signed Otto Porter Jr. on a discounted deal.
Injuries have hampered Porter's career. Staying healthy has been a significant issue. When he's healthy, he showed he could be a highly serviceable player who can shoot the ball. If this is the year he can stay fit, Porter could be the greatest investment of the summer. Being set for a smaller role could assist in limiting his chances of getting hurt, so this could end up a good move for both parties.
Eventually, the Warriors signed a big man who can spread the floor, Nemanja Bjelica. He's a 38 percent career three-point shooter, and he adds an element the team has never had. Most of the big men who played for the Warriors were prototypical ones. Having a 6'10” player who is a three-point specialist will be new territory for the Dubs.
As the Warriors figured out, they would be losing Kelly Oubre Jr. Finding a replacement was more than necessary. Andre Iguodala was available, and the squad got him to return to the Bay Area. Bringing back a veteran who helped build a championship culture could be huge, especially with a young group of players who could be the team's future. Having a mentor like Iguodala coming off the bench helps the present and the future of the squad.
The Warriors could only do so much with their financial situation, but it seems they maximized the opportunities that presented themselves.
Overall Moves: B
Changes were made on Steve Kerr's coaching staff as well. Kenny Atkinson, who served as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, joined the Warriors crew. He previously served as coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020. Adding some new ideas to the team while keeping the Warriors' championship values might be a good chance.
With everything considered, the Warriors had a solid offseason. In the NB Draft, they came away with the players they wanted, and in free agency, they might have got some steals at a discounted rate. In a limited but productive offseason, the Warriors receive a B. The summer wasn't the greatest, but it was nothing terrible about it as well. Every move made sense, and it looks like the Warriors could be heading back to their championship ways.
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