NBA Free Agency 2024: Warriors’ Response to Losing Klay Thompson – A Right Path?

For a long time, fans held out hope for another reunion between Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors, envisioning a return to the Bay Area.

This wasn’t the first time rumors of Thompson leaving swirled, with the Los Angeles Lakers often seen as a persistent threat to break up the golden era of Bay Area basketball.

The Lakers attempted to lure the veteran All-Star, recognized as the second-best shooter of all time. However, it was the Dallas Mavericks, not the Lakers, who convinced Thompson to embark on a new adventure, ending one of the NBA’s most celebrated backcourts.

The Mavericks offered Thompson $50 million over three seasons and the chance to play alongside Luka Dončić. This sudden shift left the Warriors facing an identity crisis.

Replacing a player who contributed to four championships and spent 13 years with the franchise is no small task. The Warriors’ solution was not to replace Thompson directly but to address the collective impact he had.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. opted for a team-oriented approach. The Warriors acquired Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton, both expected to play significant roles. Hield, a confident and skilled shooter, might be the closest to filling Thompson’s offensive role. Since the 2019-20 season, Hield has made 39.2% of his 8.7 three-point attempts, mainly off the catch, a good fit for the Warriors’ style.

On the defensive end, Melton will step in. Melton’s recent defensive performance has surpassed Thompson’s, whose injuries have affected his movement and quickness.

This duo, Hield and Melton, brings depth that the Warriors lacked, potentially making them stronger than last season.

Additionally, the Warriors signed Kyle Anderson, a versatile and reliable backup forward. Anderson can emulate Draymond Green’s role when Green is off the floor, preventing significant drop-offs.

Overall, the Warriors exceeded expectations this summer. For a franchise that prioritizes competitiveness, this is promising news.

Yet, a broader question remains. Even the most dedicated Warriors fans must wonder about the franchise’s future direction.

Hield, Melton, and Anderson are experienced players, not young prospects. This raises concerns about the future of the Warriors’ young core: Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Kuminga and Moody, after years of limited production, finally broke out. Podziemski had an impressive start, and even Jackson-Davis, a late second-round pick in 2023, played 68 games with starter-like per-minute numbers.

It would make sense to focus more on this youth movement. Instead, the Warriors seem committed to providing Stephen Curry with experienced teammates.

There’s no clear right or wrong in this strategy. The franchise aims to support one of the greatest players in NBA history, but a decision on the future will eventually be necessary.

If Curry remains for another three or four years, the young core will no longer be considered young. A hard reset would then be challenging. Drafting in the late 2020s would mean waiting two or three years for new rookies to reach the level of Kuminga, Moody, Podziemski, and Jackson-Davis.

By then, Kuminga and Moody might be nearing the end of their second contracts, potentially becoming targets for other teams.

If this happens, the Warriors might need to hit the reset button again, delaying a proper rebuild and pushing the organization’s resurgence into the 2030s.

Such is the cost of sustaining a dynasty that lasted nearly a decade.

A seamless transition from an elite core to a young core, maintaining top status in the NBA, is rare. The Boston Celtics of the 1950s and 1960s achieved it, but the NBA then had far fewer teams. Today’s 30-team league, potentially expanding soon, makes such transitions even more challenging.

The Warriors are at a crossroads, balancing their legacy with Stephen Curry and the future of the franchise.

Whichever path the Warriors choose, their commitment to that path is crucial.