Subscribe
Follow Us
The Golden State Warriors are in the midst of a busy offseason as they look to reestablish their standing as one of the top teams in the NBA. No doubt, a lot of their success hinges on their Big Three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. But just like any other team, rounding out the roster with a championship-caliber supporting cast is a must if they want to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy once again.
So far, Golden State has made solid moves to improve its roster this summer. The Dubs took two promising young wings in the 2021 NBA Draft with Jonathan Kuminga at No. 7 and Moses Moody at No. 14. In addition, they signed Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica, both of which are low-risk, high-reward moves, to veteran minimum deals. To top it all off, they brought back 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala to reunite the band back together.
So far, it has been a solid offseason for Dub Nation, despite losing some of their pieces from last year's squad. Their additions have been more tailor-fit to their style of play, and their high basketball IQ is arguably the biggest assets they will bring to The Bay.
Nonetheless, Golden State's roster is by no means a finished product. They still have some wrinkles to iron out with their lineup. Perhaps the biggest need the Warriors need to address is their lack of a true and reliable backup point guard to spell some minutes for Stephen Curry.
Article Continues Below
Sure, Golden State may be ready to give Jordan Poole the reigns as Curry's primary reserve. The incoming third-year guard did show great improvement toward the second half of the 2020-21 season and could be primed for a larger role off the bench. In addition, Iguodala's return gives them another veteran playmaker who is familiar with the system. Thus, it's arguable that Golden State already has that issue addressed. Nonetheless, it never hurts to add more depth and an option that Steve Kerr can go to.
The Warriors still have their taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.9 million) at their disposal which they can use to sign another contributor. But Golden State reportedly may not use the MLE given how this would further balloon their tax bill. With the free agents available, there may not be any options for them to justify the hefty cost.
Perhaps the best option right now in terms of talent is Dennis Schroder, who remains unsigned after placing a high price tag on himself during free agency. He would definitely be a great addition, but it's hard to envision the German guard taking on a massive pay cut to go to Golden State.
Maybe Avery Bradley could be an option as a 3-and-D guard who could also handle the ball for some stretches, all while playing alongside other playmakers like Jordan Poole and Andre Iguodala on the second unit.
There's still time for Golden State to further bolster its roster in the hopes of making another championship run. Anyone they add at this point may not move the needle much, but it will give the Dubs another safety option in case they need one.
