SAN FRANCISCO — To Draymond Green, the vibe has unmistakably shifted. Things look different. Things feel different.
It’s hard to lose a franchise icon and pretend life is the same.
While the likes of Green, Stephen Curry and Kevon Looney fielded questions in San Francisco during the Warriors’ media day Monday, Klay Thompson went through the same rigamarole about 1,500 miles away in Dallas with the Mavericks. For 12 seasons, Curry, Green and Thompson formed one of the best trios of all time. Now, Curry, Green and company must navigate a new chapter of their basketball lives.
“You go into it with a little uncertainty because after 12 years of something you kind of grow accustomed to it,” Green said, “but at the same time, where there’s the most uncertainty, that’s usually the biggest opportunity for growth. That’s kind of where we are, and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
As Gary Payton II assessed, the Warriors “can’t really duplicate” Thompson’s ability to take and make tough shots. There’s also no truly replacing the personality of Thompson, traded to the Mavericks as part of a historic six-team deal. What the front office has attempted to do this offseason, though, is attempt to alleviate the sting of his departure.
While Golden State failed to land a big fish this offseason — Lauri Markkanen signed an extension with the Jazz while Paul George joined the 76ers — the team added a bevy of guards and wings in Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton, Lindy Waters III. Hield and Waters provide shooting; Anderson and Melton bring defense.
Still, the combination of failing to land a star and losing Thompson and Chris Paul leaves Golden State in a nebulous position. The Warriors, as currently constructed, don’t stand to represent the Western Conference in the Finals, well behind the likes of the Thunder, Nuggets, Mavericks and Timberwolves. As Stephen Curry assessed on Monday, the Warriors are now the “hunters” — not the ones being hunted.
While Golden State didn’t make a blockbuster move, Green praised general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. for not panicking when the attempts to acquire George and Markkanen fell through, noting that teams with strong benches are those that win titles.
“One move in this league, it can pretty much set you up for how the next 10 years of your organization is going to go,” Green said. “Sometimes the best deal you can make is to not make a deal, and I think we did a great job in going out and getting pieces that’s going to help this team grow, that will allow young guys opportunity to grow and yet keeping the future of this organization as bright as it’s ever been.”
Along with the additions, the Warriors will increasingly depend on their young core of Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody — a young core they elected to retain. There are question marks, to be sure, with every member of that trio.
Does Kuminga, who posted career-highs all across the board, sign an extension?
“I’d love to have it, but I’m not really concerned about it,” Kuminga said. “If I get it, if I don’t, it’s cool. I’m still going to be me. I’ll just go out there and perform. But that’s not a problem.”
Does Podziemski, fresh off making the All-Rookie first team, avoid a sophomore slump and take a second-year leap?
“Individually, I think I learned that I could do a lot more,” Podziemski said. “I think towards the back half of the season, end of March, early April, things started to slow down for me, just on the court. I felt more at ease of what I was doing out there, and it was an exciting piece.”
Can Moody, who averaged a career-high 8.1 points, finally become a consistent part of the rotation?
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“The sky’s the limit for those guys,” said Kevon Looney. “They are young and talented and have proven they can play in this league and play winning basketball. We are going to need them to reach our ultimate goal and take the next step and be really good and compete and contend. We need those guys to play a lot of minutes and play at a high level.”
In Green’s estimation, the Warriors never got “bored chasing the greatness.” Green, Curry and Thompson’s collective goal was always to win a championship. For Curry and Green, that goal remains the same.
Even without Thompson.
“Now we turn the page,” Green said. “Turning the page doesn’t mean we’re still not competing for the same thing, that’s always the goal, but it’s just going to look a little different now. It’s not going to look the way it looked for the last 12 years.”