LAS VEGAS — The top free agents are off the board and rosters have mostly filled out as the league converges in Las Vegas for Summer League.
For the Warriors, a flurry of activity has turned Chris Paul and franchise legend Klay Thompson into De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield. Golden State improved on the margins with 12 capable role players and fortified their coaching staff with Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse.
General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is excited about the group. Assuming it’s the same one that enters the season, the Warriors have a good chance to improve upon last year’s 46-36 record.
But even at this stage of the summer, that’s still an assumption.
“You’re always looking around the league, talks with teams, explore stuff,” Dunleavy said. “I like our team, but there are also some things that we can look at to improve it. We’ll continue to do that leading up to camp and the season.”
The biggest way to improve would be to swing a blockbuster trade for Lauri Markkanen, whom the Jazz have reportedly been taking offers on. Markkanen can extend with the Jazz on Aug. 6, which puts somewhat of an artificial deadline on when a trade would have to happen — if it happens at all.
Markkanen is one of the game’s elite scorers and is in his prime at 27 years old. The Jazz and CEO Danny Ainge would likely have to be wowed by an offer to part with him.
The Warriors reportedly have made a substantial offer to the Jazz, but if they aren’t able to add Markkanen or a player of a similar caliber, they’re not going to be picked by any pundits to contend in a loaded West. Oklahoma City, Denver, Minnesota and Dallas form an elite top of the conference, with Memphis, Sacramento, Phoenix, New Orleans and both Los Angeles teams firmly in the mix as well.
But by adding Anderson, Melton, Hield and potentially internal improvements from Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors could easily join that second group.
“I think a little bit like last year, going into it, I thought we had a better team than the prior year,” Dunleavy said. “I feel the same this year. But what does that mean? Last year’s record was better, and we didn’t make the playoffs. I think we will be better, we should be better, but a lot goes into it: health, chemistry, all that.”
Particularly without Thompson, who ranked fourth in the NBA in made 3-pointers last year, spacing will be of the utmost importance. Lineups that included all three of Draymond Green, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kuminga struggled last year.
“I think from a shooting standing, Buddy really helps with losing Klay,” Dunleavy Jr. said. “But on top of that, I think there’s room for others to step up,” Dunleavy said. “That’s where, in terms of volume and accuracy, we want guys shooting the 3 more. That can be internal, with Moses (Moody), Wiggs, BP, JK — all those guys can make shots.”
Part of improving on the margins could include coaching. Stotts brings head coaching experience and Stackhouse will provide a former player’s perspective. Besides Atkinson, who left to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dunleavy said he expects the rest of last year’s staff to return. That means the bench will include Bruce Fraser, Ron Adams, Chris DeMarco, Kris Weems, Anthony Vereen, Hilston Armstrong, and Jacob Rubin.
Still, the objective for the Warriors remains surrounding Steph Curry with as much talent as possible.
Curry, 36, is representing the U.S. in the Paris Olympics. He was named to the All-NBA third team last year and remains an elite offensive engine.
The franchise owes it to Curry to remain competitive as long as he remains at this level.
“It’s top of mind, for sure,” Dunleavy said. “In this league, you want to take advantage of these time horizons. And certainly, with Steph and Draymond still at a really high level, that’s important. So we’ve got to be mindful of the decisions we make to stay at this championship level. That’s drafting, trading, signing — all that stuff.
I think that’s what went into adding the last one with Buddy. We’ve gone over the tax to do so. We’re serious about winning. Joe (Lacob) is putting his money where his mouth is. So to your question about capitalizing on Steph’s prime, we’re going after it.”
