The Golden State Warriors … on the outside looking in on the playoffs?
Hall of Fame power forward and current NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley believes it's a possibility:
“I think they're gonna struggle to make the playoffs without Klay,” Barkley said (via NBC Sports Bay Area). “I think that's the one thing they're gonna miss the most, even more than KD.”
“Steph's gonna be Steph. He's one of the best basketball players in the world,” Barkley said. “I just don't think they have enough without Klay.”
Kevin Durant notably left the Bay Area franchise in free agency this summer, deciding to join Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan in Brooklyn. Durant is recovering from an Achilles rupture, however, and likely won't participate for most, if not all, of next season's activities.
Klay Thompson, who the Warriors re-signed to a five-year max extension worth $190 million, tore his ACL in the decisive Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals in which Golden State fell to Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors for the first title in franchise history.
So, that leaves a roster comprised at the top by All-Stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green—definitely two bona fide stars in the NBA. Curry is a two-time league MVP and Green a former Defensive Player of the Year.
The Warriors also picked up one-time All-Star D'Angelo Russell in free agency—via sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Key losses include 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, point guards Shaun Livingston and Quinn Cook, and center Jordan Bell.
One thing is for certain: Golden State will look a lot different in 2020, and there is plenty of competition in the loaded Western Conference.
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