After losing franchise icon Klay Thompson this offseason, there are many unknowns surrounding the future of the Warriors organization.
Golden State is trying to capitalize on the remainder of Stephen Curry's career and set up its young players for long-term success, but their ultimate goal, of course, is to win a championship.
Right now, one of the team's biggest leaders believes they're not there yet.
“I'm happy with the guys we added,” Draymond Green said on the Club 520 Podcast. “I'm not going to get carried away and say we're a championship team. Everything worked out in 2022. I thought we were going to lose in the first round, but everything worked out.”
“So I'll never give up on us, but I don't think a lot of teams outside of the Boston Celtics are championship teams either.”
While the loss of Thompson, who spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Bay Area Warriors, is sad, Golden State did acquire Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield in a six-team sign-and-trade. The Warriors also signed De'Anthony Melton to a one-year contract.
But more than anything, Green knows a team with Stephen Curry on it is a force to be reckoned with, but the veteran Warriors forward is most excited to see the Warriors' two wings develop during the 2024-25 season.
“I think a lot of people forget that, [Andrew Wiggins] “It's great to have Wiggs playing for this team,” Green said. “Wiggs had a tough year last year, like we all did, but with what he went through, I don't know if I would have played. What he's going through is nobody's business. He had a tough time going through that season, so I think we'll have Wiggs back this year for 2022.”
“And what I'm more excited about than my own play is Jonathan Kuminga. I think he's going to take the next step to become an All-Star. In that sense, we have a good mix of veterans, experience and young players, and I think that will work well. And by the way, we also have Stephen Curry. He's that good, so he could win a championship any day.”
“But we're not a championship team on paper, and we're not a championship team at the start of the season. But we're a team that can develop into a championship contender. That's all you can hope for.”
Of course, a lot can change between now and the start of the new season, and even more so in April.
The Warriors are used to being written off and doubted by outsiders, but this may be the first time they have to prove their teammates wrong.
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