The Golden State Warriors are considered by many as the biggest winner in this year's free agency. They were successful in snagging the top prize this summer by adding former MVP Kevin Durant to their formidable lineup.
Already parading three of the top players in the NBA today in their starting lineup in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the team from the Bay Area are now dubbed a “super team” with the addition of KD.
Mike Fratello's bench concerns
But only a little over a year after winning a championship, the Warriors' roster already looks totally different, thanks to moves done to make room for their star signing in July.
It is no secret that Steve Kerr relied a lot on his role players who contributed heavily night in and night out to team's cause. This coming season, the relievers that fans have been accustomed to seeing are no longer there. Sure, they have new faces expected to play major roles off the bench, but those new faces have yet to prove their fit in the franchise.
One former NBA coach believes the Warriors have lost the depth they had the past couple of years, which beyond their great starters made the team truly hard to beat. In a recent appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio's “Elevate Above The Rim,” Mike Fratello had this to say about the Warriors' roster changes:
“I don't know about Golden State, just how many games they are going to win because they lost a lot of those glue pieces that were so important to them, giving them the depth that when they came off the bench they didn't have a major drop off and many times gave them a lift and took them to a bigger lead in the game than they had initially.”
Who Golden State gave up
The “bench mob” may still have 2015 NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala and back-up point guard Shaun Livingston, but the majority of the their championship winning team has moved on. A few of those players include Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli, Brandon Rush, Harrison Barnes, and Marreese Speights.
Expectations are higher than ever for the Dubs this year and many consider them the title-favorites again. Only time can tell if Mike Fratello is right and if the Warriors will lack the punch they used to have when their starters get a breathes.
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