After a disappointing season where they missed the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors recognized the need for a shakeup to fully leverage the talents of Stephen Curry, their 10-time All-Star point guard, who is still showing impressive skills at 36 years old.
What caught many off guard was the decision to let Klay Thompson, Curry’s long-time backcourt partner, head to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-year, $50 million sign-and-trade deal.
In response, the Warriors quickly signed former Philadelphia 76ers guards De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, along with ex-Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson to step into Thompson’s role.
Read more: Warriors are Optimistic About This Offseason Despite Klay Thompson’s Exit
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At a recent press conference, team president Mike Dunleavy Jr. and head coach Steve Kerr shared their positive outlook regarding the roster changes. Kendra Andrews of ESPN notes that replacing Thompson with these new players sends a strong message about the team’s direction.
“We feel great about the team. We believe we’ve improved,” Dunleavy stated. “At our core, we have a solid team, but we are also one of the more impatient franchises due to our current timeline.”
The most notable move of the offseason was extending Curry’s contract for two more seasons, worth $62.2 million, keeping him with the team through 2026-27.
Dunleavy remarked on the balance between urgency and discipline, indicating satisfaction with the team’s summer strategy and future development.
Andrew Wiggins, a former All-Star who had personal challenges over the past two seasons, is anticipated to bounce back this year. “I’m expecting a big year from Andrew,” Kerr commented. “He looks fit and motivated, ready to reclaim his past form.”
Additionally, the Warriors have the ability to make further changes if needed during the regular season.
“We have a strong roster and most of our resources still available,” Dunleavy said. “We’re prepared to make impactful moves. We were aggressive last year but didn’t finalize many deals. It all depends on finding the right partner, but our urgency will remain.”