How Warriors’ front office gained wisdom after questionable trade

How Warriors’ front office gained wisdom after questionable trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The thinking around the NBA is that the Warriors, acutely aware they are not among the top-tier teams in the Western Conference, still are on the prowl for a move that could put them there.

But there is a catch.

Golden State’s front office, with general manager Mike Dunleavy under the authority of CEO Joe Lacob, is considerably more deliberate than those bygone days when it thirsted for relevance. Or desperate to walk into the wild.

Multiple league sources believe the more prudent approach goes back to a hard lesson learned in 46 months ago.

Back to the November 2020 acquisition of Kelly Oubre Jr.

The Warriors were coming off an NBA-worst 15-50 season that landed them in the draft lottery. There were legitimate reasons for the steep descent. The offseason departure of Kevin Durant. The absence Klay Thompson, rehabilitating a torn left ACL. An early-season injury that limited Stephen Curry to five games. The season that followed a fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals was reduced to ash before Halloween.

The front office was determined to avoid another disaster and felt good about the revamped roster. Curry and Thompson were healthy. Andrew Wiggins would play alongside both for the first time. First-round draft pick James Wiseman could play a little and learn a lot.

Hours before the Warriors drafted Wiseman, Thompson sustained a ruptured right Achilles tendon during a workout. A cloud of gloom covered the franchise. Rather than risk another forgettable season, the Warriors pivoted to Plan B. To Oubre.

Oubre is a talented wing who can be effective at both ends. He would essentially replace Thompson, a five-time NBA All-Star and elite shooter who was voted to the 2019 All-Defensive team. Problem addressed, if not solved.

Lacob, according to league sources, was a loud voice – the “driving force,” according to one – in favor of trading for Oubre. So much so that it didn’t matter that this would double Golden State’s luxury tax bill. Oubre’s one season cost the Warriors more than $80 million in…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-front-office-gained-wisdom-141801910.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-09-04 14:18:01

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