Success around corner? It’s possible for Warriors
No big shockers in the Warriors’ corner of the world. As forecast in preseason, it’s Alen Smailagic at center, flanked by Zach Norvell, Jeremy Pargo, Juan ToscanoAnderson and Andrew Wiggins. On to the stretch drive!
We haven’t seen that exact lineup yet, but it’s possible, not to mention completely nuts. You have to credit head coach Steve Kerr for his relentless desire to make this team a passable NBA entry, and it’s hard to recall a team so destitute, so utterly dismantled, planning on a championship run just months from now.
We’ll leave that thought for next winter. Anytime six players are traded within a twoweek stretch, you’re looking at a team in extreme transition. You get the sense that stability is at hand, but you also figured Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant would be on the court to finish off Toronto in last year’s
Finals.
Ideally: The Warriors open next season with a starting lineup of Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, a rejuvenated Wiggins and James Wiseman, the 7foot1 center gifted to them with one of the top three picks in the lottery. Now just forget all that and concentrate on what can be learned right now.
Ky Bowman, who played well enough to survive the massive roster purge, looks to be the backup point guard. Why not? He’s a highenergy guy who can score, and he’s fearless. Damion Lee has been in the backcourt picture all along, and rookie Jordan Poole — finally — looks like a player. The Warriors weren’t about to give up on Poole this early, and he has made tremendous strides with his shooting, passing and court sense.
When the season began, Kevon Looney had some serious health issues and Marquese Chriss was a complete unknown. So much can change, but if they don’t get Wiseman, or another center from below the radar, the Warriors would be satisfied with the current pair for next season. A healthy Looney plays smart and Chriss has been explosive at both ends of the floor.
With Wiggins at small forward, the Warriors will have the luxury of Draymond Green
and Eric Paschall at power forward, with Paschall able to shift spots if his offensive repertoire continues to improve. Smailagic will have a shot at making the roster if he keeps progressing. There will be important additions here, in the draft or free agency or both. So the frontcourt looks fine — assuming Wiggins removes all doubt as to his worth.
Something I’ve never understood: If you’re an NBA player, performing in front of friends, family, companions, scouts and skeptics, why wouldn’t you play with a fiery intensity every night? Every minute? As we know, that getafterit mentality isn’t for everyone. Wiggins has fought that reputation, but he’s not among the lowmotor types who slack and scowl their way through life — and he had an excellent allaround game in Phoenix on Wednesday night with 27 points (9for14 shooting), five assists and four blocks.
(Interesting, too, to watch Wiggins’ interactions with Miami’s Jimmy Butler before and after Monday night’s game at Chase Center. Butler was critical of Wiggins’ work ethic when the two played together at Minnesota, but they had a couple of very warm exchanges that suggested Butler hasn’t given up on the man who turns 25 this month.)
One crucial element from the glory years that the Warriors might not be able to recapture: the presence of Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston off the bench. This was historic stuff, calling to mind the likes of John Havlicek, Kevin McHale, Michael Cooper and Manu Ginobili. No set of analytics can properly measure what it means to have such exceptionally smart and seasoned players in reserve, just ready to break somebody’s heart.
Still, when it comes to adding players, the Warriors can’t make mistakes if they’re after another title. No misfires along the lines of Jacob Evans, Damian Jones and Jordan Bell. No more comically bad ideas like Nick Young.
On an entirely different level, the Warriors don’t need any setbacks related to the Tokyo Olympics ( July 24Aug. 9), with Curry, Thompson and Green among the 44 players named this week as finalists for the roster.
Green and Thompson were members of the 2016 goldmedalwinning team in Rio, so they’ve had the proper satisfaction, but they wouldn’t mind an encore. Would Green even make the 12man team this time? It seems like a stretch. And with outside shooters abounding among the candidates — Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Kemba Walker and James Harden — Thompson’s presence would not be required. He’d be better off, anyway, playing it safe on his rehabilitated knee with the 202021 season so close at hand.
Curry is another story. Forget any other point guards mentioned; Curry is downright planetary in the galaxy of global superstardom, and he must be there if he’s willing. Considering that he doesn’t have that gold medal in his achievement stash, he should make that trip without reservation.