Much has been said about the Golden State Warriors‘ wild offseason. Most notably, the team moved on from long-time wing Klay Thompson. After 13 years with the team, Thompson joined the Dallas Mavericks, who are fresh off an NBA Finals appearance. Additionally, the Warriors moved on from Chris Paul and Dario Saric, who joined the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets, respectively. However, not all went wrong for Golden State. They acquired Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, and De’Anthony Melton. All three of these players can contribute to the team immediately. Plus, the Warriors signed Stephen Curry to a one-year extension in August. Last season, the Warriors missed the playoffs after losing in the Play-In tournament. Additionally, with all the roster turnover they went through this offseason, it is tough to predict where the team will finish this season. However, former Warriors forward Matt Barnes seems to have an idea.
In a recent interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG.com, Barnes opined that the Warriors will once again be a Play-In team next year. Barnes cited the “tough” Western Conference as the main reason the Warriors will not be legitimate contenders this season.
“I think the West is tough,” says Barnes in a one-on-one interview with RG.org while speaking about his All The Smoke podcast and production company. “The West is a tough and young conference now, which is crazy when you look at Oklahoma City and how much better they got. You look at Minnesota, you look at Dallas. Denver is still right there, I’m looking for Houston to make a big jump this year, Sacramento has DeMar DeRozan. So I don’t think it’ll be an easy road, I think they’ll have an opportunity – if the team stays pat with no other movement – I think they’ll probably be in a play-in situation. But they also do have some young talented pieces.”
Former Warriors Champion Reveals Low Expectations for Season
Analyzing Matt Barnes’ Golden State Warriors Take
Depending on how you look at it, Barnes’ comments can start their own conversation. On one hand, the Warriors still have Curry, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr. With these three at the helm, the Warriors will always remain potential title contenders. This is especially true given that they are just two years removed from their most recent championship. However, on the flip side, it is clear the Warriors are not the dominant force they were in the 2010s. Following Thompson’s departure, the end of their reign has already started, and it will prove difficult for the Warriors to win even one more title under the current regime.
Ultimately, Barnes brings up a good point. While the Warriors on their own are no longer an elite team, the main problem is the competition around them. Looking at the Western Conference, there are multiple teams who are clearly better than them on paper. Additionally, there are other teams, like the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and Memphis Grizzlies who could all jump Golden State in the standings.
The Last Word
For the first time in a while, there is genuine uncertainty about the Warriors’ standing in the league. The Warriors begin their regular season two weeks from today against the Portland Trail Blazers. From that game on, many eyes will be on Golden State as they navigate through life without Thompson.
