The Golden State Warriors clearly entered the offseason with the open mind to potentially make a splash move to upgrade the roster. However, after failing to pry Lauri Makkanen away from the Utah Jazz. the Warriors failed on that front. If it's any consolation, the team did succeed in retooling the roster after the departure of Klay Thompson. How the additions of Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson end up playing out remains to be seen.
In a way, the Warriors are going to look different heading into the new season. The question is, will they be improved? Piggy-backing off that, let's take a deeper look at the Warriors as training camps begin with two concerns and one bold prediction for the team.
Is there another trade coming for the Golden State Warriors?
After missing out on Markkanen, there was a report that the Warriors still very much believed there was a splash move to be made. Whether that is still the case or not remains to be seen. However, if the Warriors are going to consider themselves contenders in the Western Conference this season, a significant upgrade to the roster has to happen at some point this year.
For as good as the Warriors may be on paper, this is simply not a team in a position to compete with the top contenders in the West. One of the bigger questions for the Warriors heading into the start of the season revolves around whether another trade is coming or not. Because if not, this could be a long season for Golden State.
Are Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga the real deal?
Another pressing issue for the Golden State Warriors heading into the start of the season revolves around the team's young core. Over the last couple of seasons, it's clear the Warriors have put plenty of stock into it and believe it could help them bridge to the next era for the franchise. However, they're going to need them to make big contributions this season. At this point, I'd have to imagine we're going to learn an awful lot about both Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga.
There's a very real chance Kuminga is playing for a contract this season (if they don't agree to an extension before the October 21 deadline) and he's yet to make the complete star jump that some in the organization seem to believe he can make. This is a huge season for Kuminga for a multiple of seasons.
The same could be said about Podziemski who, after the departure of Klay Thompson, has some pretty big expectations on his shoulders heading into the start of the season. If the Warriors are going to be improved from last season, Podziemski will have to prove he's the real deal as the new starting guard opposite of Steph Curry.
1 Bold prediction for the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors will make a splash trade at some point this offseason
After the first 20 games or so, it will become clear to the front office that the retooling of the roster from this past offseason won't be enough to help catapult the Golden State Warriors to new heights in the Western Conference. Once that becomes clear, I don't believe the front office will allow this season to be a lost cause. Because Steph Curry isn't getting any younger, it will become even more important to upgrade the roster around him. The bold prediction I have for the team heading into the start of the season revolves around them making a splash trade at some point this season.
I'm not sure if it will come before or at the NBA Trade Deadline but I do anticipate if the team is struggling that they will have to consider such a move. The big question is whether the right target will come available. That could ultimately make this prediction go or fall flat on its face.
But, like I mentioned before, the Warriors have to make an upgrade to their roster before they're considered to be a real threat to compete in the Western Conference.
