The Golden State Warriors started the season in ugly fashion on Wednesday night, getting routed by the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the loss reflects what happened this summer, when the organization decided against making any major moves.
The biggest move of the summer was extending Steph Curry, which was huge for the organization. However, it was clear the four-time NBA champion wasn't going anywhere.
“Not at all. I've always stated that I wanna be a lifer with Golden State… My mission is to stay in Golden State and be competitive, the contract stuff will take care of itself," Curry said.
What didn't sit well with the fanbase this summer was Golden State's lack of major moves. Instead, the Warriors brought in rotational players they could afford while retaining several familiar faces from previous seasons.
“The Warriors are officially running it back despite missing the playoffs last season. Golden State re-signed Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, De'Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II this summer," NBA writer Jake Weinbach posted.
Many fans want the Warriors to make a trade or find another way to bring a star alongside Curry. He is the fanbase's favorite player, and supporters want to see him get one more chance to compete for a championship. However, head coach Steve Kerr made it clear that Golden State wasn't going to sacrifice its future to build around an aging Curry.
“Do we throw away our entire future to build around a 39-year-old Steph? He turns 39 in March, right? Does it make sense now to throw away all those picks? H*ll no,” Kerr said.
Fans aren't going to like hearing that, but Kerr has a point. Curry is already dealing with knee issues that require careful management, so there is no reason for the Warriors to force a championship roster together at the expense of their future.
If Golden State went all-in and failed to win a title, the organization could be left rebuilding once Curry retires and its other veterans move on. Fans may not like the idea of the Warriors failing to give Curry a storybook ending, but from an organizational standpoint, preserving the team's future could be the right move.
