It has been an incredible run for the Golden State Warriors, but their dynasty appears all but over. After losing in the play-in tournament this year, the Warriors failed to make the postseason for the second time in three seasons.
With Steve Kerr’s contract expiring, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green nearing the end of their careers, and Jimmy Butler III coming off a season-ending injury, it may be in the Warriors’ best interest to begin rebuilding.
However, Golden State may have one more blockbuster move up its sleeve to keep its championship window open.
Warriors May ‘Aggressively Pursue’ Clippers Star Kawhi Leonard This Offseason
The Warriors did make one fairly big deal prior to the trade deadline, sending disgruntled forward Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks in return for veteran big man Kristaps Porziņģis.
However, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Warriors tried to make another move for an aging All-Star this season, Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard.
“League sources say that the Warriors were the team that most aggressively pursued a trade for the Clippers’ Leonard in the final stages before the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline after the Clippers had already traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac that same week,” Stein reported.
However, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer ultimately refused to trade Leonard, even as the Clippers revamped their roster.
“Clippers owner Steve Ballmer ultimately could not stomach the outcome and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank insisted in the wake of Wednesday’s play-in loss at home to Golden State that LA hopes to retain Leonard as its franchise centerpiece,” Stein wrote.
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The Warriors ultimately fought through injuries and finished with the 10th-best record in the Western Conference (37-45). After rallying to defeat the Clippers with a vintage fourth-quarter performance in the opening play-in game, the Warriors fell to the Phoenix Suns in the second play-in game and missed the postseason.
The Warriors had some hope after last season, making the postseason and upsetting the Houston Rockets in seven games before falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.
It remains to be seen if the Clippers will move on from Leonard this offseason. Stein believes the Warriors could make another run at him, but only under one condition: if Kerr decides to return as head coach next season.
“Whether the Warriors re-emerge as a suitor, however, could depend on whether Steve Kerr is back as Golden State’s coach after 12 seasons,” Stein explained.
“If Kerr re-ups as coach of this team, that would be a very strong signal that the Warriors will try to assemble at least one more veteran-laden roster around Stephen Curry to try to contend. If the sides part ways, by contrast, it could signal the start of a real Bay Area overhaul.”
That’s a big if, as Draymond Green acknowledged on his podcast that Kerr appears poised to depart.
“It felt like the end,” Green said about Kerr’s future and this current era of Warriors basketball.
It seems there are only two realistic directions for the Warriors: double down on the current roster or begin rebuilding.
A lot of that likely hinges on Kerr’s future, so once that is resolved, the dominoes are expected to fall rapidly.
