The Warriors’ summer has gone from star-chasing to mostly standing pat, and that’s left the franchise with more questions than answers.
Golden State entered free agency with real buzz around possible runs at LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but neither move materialized. Instead, the Warriors have largely kept the group together and brought back a familiar core.
“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.
That quiet approach has drawn criticism, too. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins went on 'NBA Today' and said, “Steph needs to be planning his exit strategy from the Golden State Warriors," said Perkins on 'NBA Today'."
Think about it, over the last four years, the Warriors have been in the play-in tournament. And this year, the way that the West is stacked up, they're gonna be a play-in tournament team again.
You can't waste any more time hoping and banking that Mike Dunleavy is gonna get it right or is gonna make the moves that are needed to make sure that you can compete for a title, especially in a tough Western Conference.”
Still, the offseason isn’t over, and Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes floated a massive deal that would shake up both the Warriors and Bucks. In his proposal, Golden State would land Tyler Herro*, Myles Turner, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr., while Milwaukee would receive Jimmy Butler, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Will Richard, a 2027 first-round pick (top-4 protected), and a 2031 first-round pick.
Turner would be the headline piece for Golden State. The veteran big man has earned $165 million in his career and has twice led the NBA in blocks, making him one of the league’s most reliable rim protectors.
He would also give the Warriors a much-needed defensive presence in the paint while adding a big who can space the floor. Put that kind of shooting next to Curry, and Golden State suddenly has another clean path to opening up the offense.
If the Warriors are determined to squeeze everything they can out of Curry’s remaining prime, a deal like this would at least give the roster a very different look heading into the season.
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Warriors Just Sent A Telling Message About Podziemski And Their Direction
The Warriors have made it clear where they want to lean as they sort out the next phase of the roster. Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the front office views Brandin Podziemski as a priority and wants to keep building around the young guard, while also making it known that Draymond Green remains central to the franchises long-term plans. It is another sign that Golden State is trying to balance its veteran core with a younger layer of talent as it heads toward opening night.
Golden State is also approaching the season with a full roster in mind, even as the back end remains under review. Dunleavy said the team is still weighing those final spots and expects the group to be settled by opening night, which underscores how little room there is for uncertainty now. For a team trying to stay competitive while planning ahead, the message was less about splash and more about direction. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompsons Latest Comments Hit Warriors Fans Right In The Heart
Klay Thompsons latest appearance on a PlaqueBoyMax stream offered a reminder of just how much history he built in Golden State, and how personal those Warriors years really were. Speaking about his old teammates, Thompson singled out Draymond Green as the one he was closest to during their run together, a detail that will land with fans who watched that core grow up in real time and carry the franchise through its most defining stretch.
The conversation also turned to something Thompson knows all too well: the grind of coming back from major injuries. He talked about the difficulty of rehabbing from ACL and Achilles tears, a subject that still carries weight given everything he has endured in recent years. With rumors continuing to swirl about where hell play next, the uncertainty only adds another layer to a story Warriors fans are still trying to process. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Brutal Late-Season Test At The Worst Time
The Warriors are staring at a late-season stretch that could ask as much of their legs as their talent. Seven of their final nine regular-season games are on the road, and the grind includes back-to-backs and a handful of tests against strong opponents, all of it arriving just as teams try to lock in playoff position and manage workloads.
For Golden State, the issue is bigger than travel miles. This is the part of the calendar where rest decisions get tricky, rotation patterns can shift from night to night, and the cost of chasing every win can show up later when the postseason begins. The Warriors have lived through seasons in which physical and emotional fatigue showed up at the worst possible time, and this finish threatens to put that same strain back on the table. [Read more 🡒]