Stars and Fresh, Young Faces Will Embody the New Warrior Spirit
For the first time in years, the Warriors won’t enter an NBA season as the presumed champion. Hell, there are even a few talking heads who are saying they won’t even make the playoffs. After all, only a couple of months ago, the Warriors, who a few weeks prior were on the verge of a third straight championship, after KD’s departure to the Nets, were dissolved:
-Andre Iguodala (traded to the Grizzlies, will be traded)
-Shaun Livingston (waived and retired)
-DeMarcus Cousins (signed with the Lakers, then tore his ACL)
-Jordan Bell (signed with the Timberwolves)
-Quinn Cook (signed with the Lakers)
-Damian Jones (traded to the Hawks)
-Andrew Bogut (went back to Australia)
-Jonas Jerebko (free agent, playing in Europe)
These integral parts of the championship team were sacrificed as part of the rebuild. Add to that Klay’s injury (return likely in March 2020), a new arena in a new city, and an unfamiliar lineup filled with journeymen and young players… it’s all understandable that questions abound.
As Bob Myers, the Warrior’s GM put it: “It’s a new era.”
So, as the Warriors begin a new era in San Francisco in a little more than one month, Dubs fans know are aware that the Warrior’s days as undisputed big dog are over. But, so long as the team has Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson in their primes, plus D’Angelo Russell entering his, and Kevon Looney entering his own, that’s a championship core.
Additions
-D’Angelo Russell (from the Nets)
-Willie Cauley-Stein (from the Kings)
-Glenn Robinson III (from the Pistons)
-Alec Burks (from the Kings, also played for the Jazz and Cavs last season)
-Omari Spellman (2nd year player from the Hawks)
-Eric Paschall (drafted)
-Jordan Poole (drafted)
-Alen Smailagic (drafted)
The overall Warrior success will be determined by how well the team gels (especially on D), how injury free Curry can be (need some luck), and how much of an edge Draymond can infuse into the team without getting techs (back to the D).
This is probably a multi-year adjustment that will test the Warriors’ management, the star players and Dub fan’s resolve. But if all goes right, their championship window will stay open.
