Welcome to IAI Sports! And welcome to the 2022-23 NBA Season!
To begin the season, we will be running through each NBA team and analysing what they’ve done throughout the off-season. Each article will start off with an introduction, telling a story of how this team is where they are at today. We quickly delve into the results of the 2021-2022 NBA season, before diving into the off-season in’s and out’s.
From there, we go into depth discussing some of the important rotation pieces for the upcoming season, before finishing with a quick analysis of a team’s win totals and a full conclusion of why this team has completed these moves, what their win total will be, and my own predictions of breakout players and what to expect from this team. It’s a season preview series with the purpose of getting you up-to-date with what has happened throughout the league.
A season preview of each of the 30 teams will be released, leading up to the beginning of the NBA season. All data and information included in these articles have been gathered from Basketball Reference, NBA.com and ESPN.
Today’s team is the Golden State Warriors – the reigning NBA champions.
Introduction
The Golden State Warriors are the most successful team of the 2010s. There, I said it. What this team has been able to do, build the core of this team through the draft, retain that very core and be consistently in the running for championships is nothing short of remarkable. If you’re a fan of basketball, you most likely know how this team was put together. But let me quickly detail of how this team went from one playoff appearance in 18 seasons to three championships in 4 seasons.
With the 7th overall selection in the 2009 NBA draft, the Warriors took a flyer on a 3-point specialist out of Davidson College. His name was Stephen Curry. At the time, the team was in a constant state of rebuilding, hoping that one of their lottery picks would work out. As Curry developed, the team were able to select Klay Thompson 11th overall in 2011 and Draymond Green 35th in 2012. Curry and Thompson would come to be affectionately known as the Splash Brothers, for their insane ability to shoot the basketball. Partnering this duo was Green, doing the dirty work, Harrison Barnes, providing solid 3-and-D play from the SF position, and experienced veterans like Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala. This core helped the Warriors reach their first playoff series in 5 seasons in 2013.
What allowed this squad to get the most out of themselves was a change in coach. Bringing in the offensively gifted mind of Steve Kerr unlocked the tapped potential, which saw the Warriors win their first championship in 40 years in 2015. Curry became a 2-time MVP, broke many single-season 3-point records, and the team was able to win 67 and 73 games in consecutive seasons (the 2nd season being an NBA record). Ultimately, the 73-win season ended in heartbreak as the team lost the NBA finals in 7 games to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers. But what followed that very next off-season changed the NBA as we know it.
The Warriors were able to sign Kevin Durant, assembling quite possibly the greatest team ever seen on a basketball court. The insane line-up of Durant, Curry, Thompson and Green dominated the league for the next 3 seasons, making the NBA finals each season and winning 2 championships. The only thing stopping them was season-ending injuries for Durant and Thompson, which would allow the Toronto Raptors to win their first ever championship in 2019.
The team then saw Durant leave in free agency, while Thompson would spend the next 2 ½ seasons off the court dealing with knee and Achilles tears. Curry played 5 games in 2019, missing the rest due to a hand injury. With the team already having zero depth and no salary cap space, they fell back to Earth, winning 15 games and being dead-last in the Western Conference. And as the team were still undermanned, they were not able to make the playoffs the following year, losing to the LA Lakers in the play-in tournament.
Last Season
Two consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs prompted the Warriors to clean house and get the right players to partner Curry, Green and (upon his eventual return) Thompson. The team decided to let players such as Kent Bazemore and Kelly Oubre Jr walk, while they brought in Otto Porter and Nemanja Bjelica. Andre Iguodala also made a return to the team after being traded to make room for Kevin Durant many seasons ago. You could sense that they were retooling and preparing to be serious contenders for the upcoming season.
The Warriors jumped out to an 18-2 record to begin the season, thanks to two 7-game winning streaks. It was like the Warriors of old returned, torching opposing defences with elite 3-point shooting. So much so that Curry was able to beat the all-time record for 3-pointers made, early-season during a December game versus the New York Knicks. But it wasn’t just him doing all the work. An apprentice who had been developing for the past 2 seasons by the name of Jordan Poole shined given more opportunity. He started in the absence of Thompson, and once he returned in January, became a spark plug off the bench.
As Thompson returned, the team inevitably played at a more consistent level, finishing the season with a 55-27 record, good enough to be the 3rd seed in the Western Conference playoffs. With all their experience, the Warriors got themselves into optimal form at just the right time and were able to get through the Western Conference with ease. Curry was able to lead the team past the depleted Denver Nuggets in the 1st round, winning in 5 games, as well as the much-improved Memphis Grizzlies in 6 games in the 2nd round. Up against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals, the Warriors were able to target Luka Doncic’s defensive deficiencies and nullify Jalen Brunson’s offensive improvement to win the series in 5 games and get themselves to the NBA Finals. Curry won the inaugural Western Conference MVP award.
A matchup with the Boston Celtics awaited this Warriors team. Ultimately, the Warriors were much more experienced compared to their Celtics counterparts, winning the NBA finals in 6 games and claiming the NBA championship. Curry was able to match his Western Conference MVP with an NBA Finals MVP and Thompson was able to successfully come back from 2 ½ seasons out of the game. Finishing the season with the #1 ranked offence and 5th best defence, the team sent a serious message to the rest of the league: the Warriors are back.
Off-Season
Ins:
Patrick Baldwin Jr (28th pick, NBA draft)
Ryan Rollins (44th pick, NBA draft)
Gui Santos (55th pick, NBA draft)
Donte DiVincenzo (free agency, originally with Sacramento Kings)
JaMychal Green (free agency, originally with Denver Nuggets)
Outs:
Gary Payton II (free agent, moved to Portland Trail Blazers)
Otto Porter Jr (free agent, moved to Toronto Raptors)
Juan Toscano-Anderson (free agent, moved to LA Lakers)
Damion Lee (free agent, moved to Phoenix Suns)
Fresh off an NBA championship, the Warriors looked to get cheap rotation-calibre players by targeting those that may have been under-appreciated in both the draft and free agency. Exhibit A was Patrick Baldwin Jr, who was a former top 5 rank recruit coming out of high school, drafted to the Warriors with the 28th overall selection. They were also able to select Ryan Rollins and draft-and-stash prospect Gui Santos in the second round. The Warriors were able to use their minimal cap space on Donte DiVincenzo, who has struggled to get regular minutes since being traded from Milwaukee. They were also able to get JaMychal Green, who will provide big man depth in case of emergency. Importantly, Kevon Looney resigned to a 3 yr/$22.5m contract after his breakout playoff campaign.
It feels like the entire Golden State bench were unrestricted free agents, to which almost all moved to other teams. Gary Payton II was deservingly rewarded a 3-year deal with the Trail Blazers after an outstanding season proving he belonged in the NBA. Otto Porter, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Damion Lee left for more opportunity and money at rival teams, while Nemanja Bjelica signed overseas in Turkey.
2022-23 Roster
Starting Five
PG – Stephen Curry
| H: 6’2″ | W: 185lbs | Age: 34 |
| Contract: 4 yr/$215.3m | Years Pro: 13 |
Career Averages:
24.3 pts, 4.6 reb, 6.5 asts, 1.7 stls, 0.2 blks, 3.2 to, 47.3%/42.8%/90.8%, 34.3 mins
Averages Last Season:
25.5 pts, 5.2 reb, 6.3 asts, 1.3 stls, 0.4 blks, 3.2 to, 43.7%/38.0%/92.3%, 34.5 mins
2022-23 Projections:
26.7 pts, 5.4 reb, 5.9 asts, 1.2 stls, 0.3 blks, 3.2 to, 44.7%/38.7%/91.5%
Stephen Curry has had an extraordinary career. To begin with, he is the greatest 3-point shooter of all time, is a 2-time MVP, 4-time NBA champion and been to the All-Star game 8 times. Finals MVP was the final piece of silverware added to his shelf. Apart from his legendary shooting, Curry’s ability to dribble, get himself to the free throw line, and work ethic to run around screens all game long is what stands him out from his counterparts.
SG – Klay Thompson
| H: 6’6″ | W: 215lbs | Age: 32 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$83.8m | Years Pro: 9 |
Career Averages:
19.5 pts, 3.5 reb, 2.5 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.5 blks, 1.7 to, 45.8%/41.7%/84.9%, 32.9 mins
Averages Last Season:
20.4 pts, 3.9 reb, 2.8 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.5 blks, 1.3 to, 42.9%/38.5%/90.2%, 29.4 mins
2022-23 Projections:
20.3 pts, 4.3 reb, 2.9 asts, 0.6 stls, 0.6 blks, 1.5 to, 42.8%/37.9%/87.2%
Klay Thompson was able to return to the Warriors line-up last season after suffering both ACL and Achilles tears in 2019 and 2020. His perimeter defence is of utmost importance to the Warriors, as well as his elite 3-point shooting. Before the injury, he would take the opposition’s best guard/wing and be the perfect complementary piece to Curry on offence. This off-season will benefit Thompson massively, to build more strength in his legs.
SF - Andrew Wiggins
| H: 6’7″ | W: 197lbs | Age: 27 |
| Contract: 5 yr/$142.6m | Years Pro: 8 |
Career Averages:
19.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 2.3 asts, 1.0 stls, 0.7 blks, 2.0 to, 44.8%/35.0%/72.3%, 35.0 mins
Averages Last Season:
17.2 pts, 4.5 reb, 2.2 asts, 1.0 stls, 0.7 blks, 1.5 to, 46.6%/39.3%/63.4%, 31.9 mins, 73 games
2022-23 Projections:
18.4 pts, 4.8 reb, 2.5 asts, 1.0 stls, 0.8 blks, 1.7 to, 47.0%/38.5%/67.3%
Andrew Wiggins has thrived in the Warriors system. He plays a very similar game to Harrison Barnes during his time with the Warriors – a solid all-round player that can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, as well as be a catch and shoot guy while Curry and Poole orchestrate the offence. He was the glue guy that helped the Warriors across the line in many games throughout the playoffs, and I expect he’ll play the same role again this season.
PF - Draymond Green
| H: 6’6″ | W: 230lbs | Age: 32 |
| Contract: 1 yr/$25.8m | Years Pro: 10 |
Career Averages:
8.7 pts, 6.9 reb, 5.4 asts, 1.4 stls, 1.0 blks, 2.2 to, 44.1%/31.5%/71.2%, 28.5 mins
Averages Last Season:
7.5 pts, 7.3 reb, 7.0 asts, 1.3 stls, 1.1 blks, 3.0 to, 52.5%/29.6%/65.9%, 28.9 mins, 46 games
2022-23 Projections:
7.4 pts, 6.7 reb, 7.0 asts, 1.4 stls, 0.9 blks, 2.8 to, 47.6%/29.0%/71.2%
A player who has defied the odds since arriving in the NBA, Draymond Green will always be remembered as a key piece in the Warriors success. He brings a defensive presence at both the rim and on the perimeter, not to mention his playmaking ability and passion for the game. He is a crucial cog in the Warriors offensive system, often initiating fast breaks himself and being the lead facilitator in half-court sets as Curry and Thompson run to get themselves open.
C - Kevon Looney
| H: 6’9″ | W: 222lbs | Age: 26 |
| Contract: 3 yr/$22.5m | Years Pro: 7 |
Career Averages:
4.7 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.4 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.6 blks, 0.6 to, 56.7%/17.2%/60.6%, 16.4 mins
Averages Last Season:
6.0 pts, 7.3 reb, 2.0 asts, 0.6 stls, 0.6 blks, 0.8 to, 57.1%/0.0%/60.0%, 21.1 mins, 82 games
2022-23 Projections:
5.3 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.8 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.5 blks, 0.7 to, 55.4%/30.3%/62.7%
A former 30th overall selection in 2015, Kevon Looney has bided his time playing in the G-League and playing backup minutes for the majority of his career. He became a full-time starting Centre for the first time this year and played every regular season game. In small minutes, he provides a calming presence under the rim – both offensively and defensively, as well as a small amount of playmaking for a Centre. He’s been rewarded for his hard work by signing an extension over the summer.
Backups
G - Jordan Poole
| H: 6’4″ | W: 194lbs | Age: 23 |
| Contract: 5 yr/$143.9m | Years Pro: 3 |
Jordan Poole played his first two seasons for an underachieving Warriors team, mainly coming off the bench. This past season, he started in place of Thompson and was one of the most improved players in the league. His confidence grew as the season went on, to the point where he was hitting half-court buzzer beaters to end quarters during the NBA finals. On the last year of his deal, he will want to improve his efficiency to become a league average shooter.
G - Moses Moody
| H: 6’6″ | W: 205lbs | Age: 20 |
| Contract: 3 yr/$13.4m (RC) | Years Pro: 1 |
Moses Moody spent the majority of his rookie season splitting time between the end of the Warriors bench and the G-League. It was a season of development for him, playing 52 games for the Warriors and starting 4 of them. He has shown in a small sample size that he can be relied on as a shooter; he will get more opportunity this year in a reserve role.
G - Donte DiVincenzo
| H: 6’4″ | W: 203lbs | Age: 25 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$9.3m | Years Pro: 4 |
Donte DiVincenzo’s fall from grace has been quick and sudden. He was the starting SG for the Milwaukee Bucks during the regular season of their championship year in 2021, before injuries ruled him out for the majority of the playoffs. He was traded to Sacramento at last season’s trade deadline in the Serge Ibaka deal, and didn’t fit into the Kings’ plans. He lands at the Warriors looking for continuity and a chance to rebuild his value.
F - Jonathan Kuminga
| H: 6’8″ | W: 210lbs | Age: 19 |
| Contract: 3 yr/$19.3m (RC) | Years Pro: 1 |
Jonathan Kuminga was drafted to the right team, especially as he continues to develop as an athletic, lengthy wing under the tutelage of Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. He was able to play 70 games last season and start 3 games in the 2nd round matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. Look for him to keep developing his 3-point shot, as well as show off his athleticism on fast break plays.
C - James Wiseman
| H: 7’0″ | W: 240lbs | Age: 21 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$21.7m (RC) | Years Pro: 1 |
It’s hard to determine where James Wiseman will fit into this Warriors rotation. A high draft pick in 2020 (2nd overall), Wiseman played 39 games in his rookie season before tearing his meniscus in April of 2021, missing the rest of 2021 and all of 2022. Considering he only played 3 games at college, he hasn’t played much basketball at all for 3 seasons. What the Warriors will get from him this season will be a bonus; they will want him on the court in some capacity.
The Rest
11. JaMychal Green (PF/C)
12. Patrick Baldwin Jr (SG/SF)
13. Ryan Rollins (SG)
14. Andre Iguodala (SF)
15.
T-W. Ty Jerome (PG)
T-W. Anthony Lamb (SF)
Season Projections
Sports betting agencies currently have the Golden State Warriors sitting at 52.5 wins, 2nd best in the Western Conference. This is a good representation of where the Warriors sit in the Western Conference hierarchy, particularly when comparing other contenders who will bring players back from injury. The Warriors lost experience and depth from their bench, but if they continue to run with a core of Curry, Thompson, Green, Poole and Wiggins, they deserve to be in the conversation to win the Western Conference once again.
Conclusion
The Golden State Warriors timed their run perfectly. After spending the past two seasons developing role players and accumulating lottery talent through the draft, they were able to have a combination of their seasoned champions and those role players to win the franchise’s 4th title in 7 years.
As their champion core start to age (Stephen Curry, 34 years old, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green 32 years old respectively) it is crucial the Warriors get their roster formation right over the next couple of seasons. Using their draft picks to bring in cheap, young players to not only develop for the next era, but to also keep the cap situation under control is an effective way of beginning this process. I don’t expect Patrick Baldwin Jr or Ryan Rollins to contribute to this team right away. The Warriors will do what they’ve done in the past with their draft selections by getting them to mix time between the bench and the G-League. That way, both Baldwin Jr and Rollins will get development through playing and being around professionals on game nights.
The two free agency signings are great value pickups that are low risk and high reward. Donte DiVincenzo has shown in the past that he can be an important member of a playoff-calibre rotation, he just needs to get back on the court and have some continuity in his role. JaMychal Green is very much a bench version of Draymond Green – an undersized big who can be reliable on the defensive end. He shot poorly from 3-point range for Denver last season (26.6%), despite being a career 36.6% shooter. The Warriors will hope that they can bring the best basketball out of J.Green and have him be a reliable, experienced bench option.
As mentioned before, the Warriors will have the intricate task of trying to remain contenders, pay respect to their ageing core and also retain their younger key pieces. Apart from Stephen Curry, who is already on a max deal for the next 4 seasons, Kevon Looney and the recently drafted rookies, everyone else on the roster is on either 1- or 2-year deals. The Warriors will have to try and re-sign Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole at the end of this upcoming season, while also potentially re-signing Klay Thompson and Draymond Green the off-season after. All four players are worthy of deals upwards of $30m a season, so how the Warriors will navigate this financially will be very interesting to see.
If they decide to remain loyal to Thompson and Green, this could be the last season the Warriors have with Wiggins and Poole. If this is the case, this year could be their final chance to go after another championship before having to invest more time into James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
The Warriors will go all out to go back-to-back this season. I’m predicting that this Warriors team will win 52 games this upcoming season. Their offence is so unique that they can definitely be top 5 once again, while defensively they still have their main contributors. Curry may slow down as he gets older, but watch for Poole to keep progressing into a go-to option on offence. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Kuminga breaks out to become a two-way star. The Warriors will be tough to beat once again.