Mid-Season Report Card: Warriors

Steph is keeping them just above water, but what is the Warriors' ceiling in a loaded conference?

Dynamite to the dynasty

I would've banked on the Dubs making a deep playoff run this year if Klay Thompson hadn't been injured, but I'm not sure I still stand by that. The Warriors have problems with their roster. The depth is certainly a gaping hole and there aren't many reliable threats on the offensive side of the ball outside of Curry. You have the up and down firepower of Oubre and Wiseman, and Wiggins certainly has scoring potential, but it isn't enough.

The question remains: would Klay improve this team's record by enough to uphold that dynasty status? No way. Even with all of that being said, the Warriors will be back again after this season should they see an uptick in talent on their squad via free agency.

The dynamite is lit, but it has yet to detonate, at least for now.

Enjoy the prime

Stephen Curry is putting up ridiculous numbers that have resulted in a couple new career highs, including his 62-point outburst versus Portland. Whether they make it anywhere in the playoffs shouldn't detract from our enjoyment of the greatest shooter ever.

There will come a day when Steph will mail it in, but that won't be for a while. It's impressive that he's performing at this level and that it's translating to a decent record. If the Warriors were in the east they would be higher on the playoff pedestal, but even in the west their hopes of playing against either Utah, Phoenix, or the LA teams is very much alive. Steph would do everything in his power to challenge those mighty foes, and would make for entertaining basketball assuming the team could hold up their end of the bargain.

The Minnesota draft pick looms

In the trade that sent D'Angelo Russell to the Wolves for Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors were also gifted a top-three protected draft pick in 2021 that would go unprotected in 2022 if Minnesota earned the lottery rights to either first, second, or third choice in the upcoming draft. With the new lottery format, it makes things interesting given that Minnesota will almost definitely be a bottom three team, but doesn't necessitate that they get a top three pick.

Either way, one would assume the Wolves won't be good for a while, so Golden State can get another young stud to either build for the future, or trade for a star. Being the team with thee homegrown talent of their current big three in Curry, Thompson, and Green, the Warriors will have big decisions that lie ahead, but certainly as a good problem.

Deadline

Is Wiseman on the table? He has all the upside in the world and one would have to assume teams are calling Golden State regarding him. To say that one move this season would ultimately change their fate against Western Conference powerhouses would be foolish, so it seems unlikely that they ship him at this point.

If anything, they may look to move other role players like Damion Lee, Brad Wanamaker or Eric Paschall, but the returns might not be sufficient.

Maybe we'll see the reincarnation of those eight seed "We Believe" Warriors. Wear those Oakland unis for good luck, Dubs.

Grade:

C+