Goals for the second half
Warriors have more on plate than playoffs
The Warriors’ top objective over their final 35 games is to make the playoffs, but that shouldn’t stop them from thinking about next season.
Odds are that Golden State will have a tough time getting past the first round without Klay Thompson. But once he returns from a torn Achilles tendon next season, the Warriors have a chance to contend for another NBA title — that is, as long as they make the most of the coming months.
Here is a look at the biggest questions facing Golden State the rest of the season:
Will the Warriors trade Kelly Oubre Jr.?
Oubre has been Golden State’s most consistent player in recent weeks, which makes him only more attractive to other teams. This is big news should the Warriors decide they can’t bring him back in free agency.
As someone who thrives in transition, guards multiple positions and knocks down the open 3pointer, Oubre, 25, could command contract offers in the $20millionayear range this summer. That might be a bit steep for the Warriors, who already have the biggest payroll in NBA history and are losing hundreds of millions of dollars because of fanless games amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Even if Golden State decides it’s willing to stomach the luxurytax burden that resigning Oubre would bring, it has no guarantee of bringing him back . Oubre, who will be an unrestricted free agent, might prefer to join a team that views him as a goto option. With the Warriors, he’d likely be a sixth man once Thompson returns.
If Golden State believes Oubre would sign elsewhere in free agency, it should strongly consider trading him at the deadline for someone who can help beyond this season. The Warriors know that they need a solid eight or nineman rotation to contend for a 202122 title. By unloading Oubre to a team jostling for playoff positioning, Golden State could at least get a helpful player with years left on his contract.
Can James Wiseman improve quickly?
As impressive as Wiseman is at times, the Warriors can’t ignore a simple fact: They’re better with him on the bench. Golden State has been outscored by a 5.5 net rating with Wiseman on the floor this season and is a plus4.2 without him.
This creates a dilemma for head coach Steve Kerr. Wiseman’s development will be key to the Warriors’ longterm outlook, and he needs more minutes to become a franchise center. But given that Wiseman is prone to rookie mistakes and often ends up out of position, Kevon Looney — a more technically sound player — gives Golden State a better shot at the playoffs.
By inserting Wiseman back into the starting lineup for Thursday’s loss to the Suns, Kerr made it clear that he’s making Wiseman’s development a priority. The Warriors are willing to endure his growing pains to ensure that he improves at a faster rate.
If Wiseman can play 30plus minutes a night, he should be a much more consistent player in a couple of months than he is today. There is no replacement for ingame experience.
Which role players warrant a spot in next season’s plans?
In building their dynasty, the Warriors needed more than superstars. Role players such as Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston were instrumental to Golden State’s five straight Finals appearances. Even lesserknown players such as Leandro Barbosa and Marreese Speights provided value.
Once Thompson comes back next season, the Warriors should have one of the best starting lineups in the league. The bigger question is whether they’ll have a solid enough bench to contend for a title.
In the playoffs, Golden State needs at least eight players it feels comfortable playing meaningful minutes. Several more players must provide quality regularseason minutes to ensure that the Warriors don’t wear out their core players by the start of the postseason.
The next couple of months will be an audition of sorts for Golden State reserves eager to prove they can contribute to the 202122 team. Can Eric Paschall play power forward and excel in bigger lineups? Will Damion Lee be a reliable enough 3andD wing to warrant a spot in next season’s rotation as an eighth man? Can Jordan Poole carve out a niche as a secondary ballhandler?
A handful of players, including Juan ToscanoAnderson, Nico Mannion, Alen Smailagic and Mychal Mulder, want to prove they simply deserve a spot on next season’s roster. To do that, they’ll need to capitalize on limited minutes.
Will Minnesota finish with a leagueworst record?
Given that the Warriors’ 2021 firstround pick from the Timberwolves is topthree protected, one might assume that Golden State doesn’t want Minnesota to post the NBA’s worst record this season. That’s far from true, however, because of how the draft lottery works.
With a leagueworst record of 729, Minnesota is on pace to land no worse than fifth in the lottery. The Warriors have a 59.9% chance of acquiring the No. 4 or No. 5 pick in the 2021 draft from the Timberwolves. That’s significant, given that five players in the 2021 class — Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham, G League Ignite’s Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green, Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs and USC’s Evan Mobley — are considered potential franchise players. After those five, there is a notable dropoff.
The good news for Golden State is that Minnesota, which has at least three fewer wins than any other team, owns the league’s fourthtoughest schedule the rest of the season. It has two more games apiece against Utah and Phoenix, the teams with the NBA’s top two records, as well as one against the Eastern Conferenceleading 76ers.