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Where The Golden State Warriors Stand

Need to take a breather from all of the free agency craziness? Luckily for you, you’ve come to the right place. Compared to just about every other team in the league, what the Golden State Warriors have done over the last three weeks has been rather mundane. Actually, it would be more accurate to look at what the Warriors didn’t do over the last three weeks.

-The most loaded NBA Draft in a decade came and went without the Warriors even looking for a way to insert themselves into the fray. The Warriors 1st round pick went to Utah, who selected Rodney Hood 23rd overall, as part of the salary dump trade they made last summer that gave the Warriors the cap space to sign veteran swingman Andre Iguodala. Their 2nd round pick was sent away last summer as well, to Minnesota in exchange for Malcolm Lee and Andre Roberson.

Look, I know that there wasn’t much the Warriors could’ve done to be a part of the draft night festivities, but it still has to be frustrating for Dubs fans that their team didn’t make even one pick. The Philadelphia 76ers had six picks. Six! One out of every ten players selected in the 2014 NBA Draft is heading to Philadelphia, either now or later, whether they like it or not. Couldn’t Philly have just tossed one Golden State’s way for gift-wrapping them Wilt Chamberlain for three stiffs back in ’65? Seriously, if I gave you a quiz and asked you if Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann and Lee Shaffer were NBA players or members of the 1960’s band Gerry and the Pacemakers, you would’ve guessed they were the three Pacemakers.

If you were wondering, I’m not a fan of Gerry and the Pacemakers. I simply typed in “Odd Band Names in the 1960’s” and they narrowly edged out Herman’s Hermits and Big Brother & the Holding Company for the reference.

-Golden State didn’t trade for Kevin Love. This remains an ongoing process that seems like a bigger longshot each day. It doesn’t help that Cleveland is pining for Love too. A couple of weeks ago I wrote that it was just a matter of time until a deal between the Warriors and Timberwolves got done because one of the two teams (most likely Minnesota) would become impatient and lose the staring contest. It looks like Golden State’s refusal to include Klay Thompson will continue to bog this potential trade down since now Minnesota probably won’t bend so quickly, knowing that Cleveland is on call waiting.

Will Cleveland give up prized rookie Andrew Wiggins for Love? I have no idea. Would Minnesota pull the trigger on a deal for Love without either Wiggins or Klay Thompson being included? Your guess is as good as mine, but I still think that if both Golden State and Cleveland hold out, Minnesota will eventually buckle. They are going to lose him anyway, they might as well get something in return. The question then becomes which team is offering a better haul?

-Golden State didn’t make any kind of splashy move over the last three weeks, even outside of a potential deal with Minnesota. Like with the draft, it’s not like the Warriors had a grocery list of options here, but there was potential for moves of the sort. Ric Bucher recently reported that Golden State could’ve traded Harrison Barnes to Orlando for Arron Afflalo and a future 1st round pick but opted not to. While giving up on the 22-year-old Barnes so early is a risk, acquiring Arron Afflalo could have eased the pain of losing Klay Thompson in a potential deal for Kevin Love.

The only free agency move that the Warriors have made thus far was hardly splashy, but it was a smart move. Shaun Livingston is best known for having a ton of high school hype and then mangling his leg in his third NBA season. All of these years later, Golden State scooped him up and signed him to a three-year, $16 million deal. The Warriors badly needed a back-up point guard and Livingston is the perfect guy to play behind, or with, Stephen Curry.

Livingston’s skill set allow him to play both in relief of and with Curry, allowing the sharpshooting starter to play off the ball and run his defender through an obstacle course of screens. Livingston’s size and length—he’s 6’7 and built like Gumby—makes it possible for him and Curry to play together since Livingston would have no problem defending bigger or longer shooting guards. Even though his outside shooting touch is a major question mark, Livingston brings more to the table than he takes off of it.

How much weight does this one move carry though? Given Livingston’s physical stature, not much; and given how loaded the Western Conference is, it’s still a question. Golden State lost in the 1st Round of the Playoffs last year and have yet to make any major change other than with their Head Coach. Is standing pat and valuing roster continuity the best way to make the largest strides? Unless a Kevin Love trade is in the works, the Warriors roster will be the test case for this question and figuring out the answer will hardly be mundane.

Author: Sonny Giuliano

When I was young my parents told me not to talk to strangers, but if you wanna chat or have a friendly debate about the NBA, then we can make an exception! Follow me on Twitter… it’s gonna be fun.

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  • http://therunnersports.com/ Tyler Arnold

    You know what, I think Golden State is being smart about this. Any team except Minnesota will eventually end up having the better hand when and if they decide to make a trade for Love. They can either be arrogant and sit on him until they lose him, or they can realize teams know where they stand and won’t be getting guys like Thompson but acquire any assets they can in return. Minnesota will cave in at some point this season, but unfortunately with Cleveland in play you might not be getting Love to sign any extension anyways. Either way I respect not gutting the team when you have a first year coach. I’m a never of not improving a roster, but you have the time to make something happen, right up until the trade deadline, I wouldn’t be throwing away valuable guys like Thompson so willingly either. And Ric Bucher either has some of the worst sources in the NBA or just makes crap up. Be wary of what you read from him haha.

    • Sonny Giuliano

      I agree. As you might remember, a couple of weeks ago I wrote that I thought Golden State’s best play was waiting Minnesota out and I figured they’d eventually get Love if they were patient. Like you said, Cleveland joining the fray for Love makes being patient a little more difficult. We’ll see. I still think Minnesota eventually buckles before the season starts and trades him for less than they’re asking for now. Just unsure where he’ll go at this point.

      • http://therunnersports.com/ Tyler Arnold

        Yeah we are on the same page there. I agree, I just can’t see Saunders being arrogant enough to sit on Love this whole season and let him walk.