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We all saw this coming in Golden State, but not exactly in this fashion.
While Kevin Durant leaving the Warriors was a decision that was widely expected since the winter, the manner in which it occurred was unique, to say the least, and Golden State then turning around and swinging a deal from D'Angelo Russell was completely out of left field.
Of course, controversy has been surrounding the Warriors ever since Durant attempted to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and ended up tearing his Achilles, knocking him out for all of next season.
I'm not sure anyone really thought there was any bad blood between Durant and the Dubs' front office until now, but if the rumors are correct, then Durant was not exactly pleased with the way the Warriors handled his calf strain in the playoffs, and while he seemed destined to join Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn regardless, you have to wonder whether or not that situation sealed the deal.
So, let's get into the three biggest takeaways of the Warriors' offseason:
3. They Seem to Have a Plan
Even if Durant leaving is a massive hit, Golden State seems to have a plan moving forward.
Yes, the Dubs will also be without Klay Thompson for all of next season, as he suffered a torn ACL in the finals but the Warriors' decision to acquire Russell while also dumping Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston signals that Golden State understands it still has a window for the future and is making the necessary adjustments to maintain it.
Russell may seem like an odd fit, but if you really think about it, he does seem to match the Warriors' run-and-gun style of offense, and if he can find a role with the club, he could end up forming a deadly trio with Stephen Curry and Thompson.
Also, the general consensus is that Golden State will end up re-signing Draymond Green, who is set to be a free agent next summer.
2. There is a Crack in the Armor
Remember when Warriors owner Joe Lacob said that the Warriors were “light years” ahead of the rest of the league? Well, that statement no longer seems to ring true.
As outstanding of a job as Golden State's front office has done to assemble this dynasty, the decision to allow Durant to play in Game 5 has left a sour taste in the mouths of many, as there is a feeling that Durant was essentially pressured into playing.
Was he? We may never know for sure, but if we are to believe all of the rumors and chatter about what went down in the finals, it seems like the Dubs may not have had Durant's well-being at the forefront, and while you could probably say the same thing about every other organization in basketball, the Warriors are the franchise currently standing out.
Again, we'll probably never really know the exact situation, but it does seem like there was some type of disconnect between the front office and Durant, and don't think for a second that that isn't resonating around the league.
1. Their Aura of Invincibility is Gone
When the Warriors signed Durant during the summer of 2016, the prevailing thought was that Golden State would win the next five titles, at least.
Of course, that was always an exaggeration, as things like injuries do happen (and we just saw that this year), but still, the Warriors have carried an aura of invincibility over the last several years that has now dissipated.
We have gone from expecting the Dubs to win championships year in and year out to questioning whether or not they will even be a playoff team in 2020, and all of that happened within the span of a month.
It's incredible how quickly things can change.
