The offseason would have started at the same time whether the Warriors won or lost Game 7. However, the way the season ended should send the Warriors front office into an offseason fervor trying to make themselves just one game better than the Cavs.
The Warriors have a lot of internal decisions to make first, starting with the departure of Luke Walton to the Lakers and where Steve Kerr might go to fill that void on his coaching staff. The bigger questions regarding the roster come down to the players they drafted just a few years ago in Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli. Barnes, after playing a crucial role in Golden State’s small ball lineup these past few years, all but disappeared in the playoffs. With the salary cap going up even higher than initially expected, somebody could give Barnes a max contract and price the Warriors out of his services. Despite the reports that say the Dubs could match him, I think it’s time for him to go. He’s going to need a change of scenery and a fresh start should do him good.
Festus Ezeli is a different story. A 6’11″ center is valuable no matter what era you are playing in. Andrew Bogut will be 32 at the start of next season and has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his tenure with Golden State. Rumors, and they could be just that, say Festus could fetch three years and $50 million on the open market. If that’s the price tag for a backup center, he could be on his way out as well. This could all be agent conjecture, but has he shown enough to warrant that compensation? Probably not.
The elephant in the room is Kevin Durant. Many thought that dream died once they faced off in the Western Conference Finals and OKC was on the cusp of advancing to The Finals. Durant whispers started two seasons ago as a potential fit for the Warriors and recent speculation would suggest that scenario is very much alive. Under the ownership of Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, these far fetched ideas are more and more plausible. I wouldn’t bet on it happening, but it’s sure fun to talk about. The fans have something to discuss this offseason, making the Warriors no longer a seasonal topic.
If the Warriors don’t land their number one target in Durant, they could maybe get two smaller pieces. Hassan Whiteside, who could add a presence that they sorely lacked the last three games against the Cavaliers, is an intriguing option. When you play this far into the season like the Warriors have, the offseasons get shorter and shorter. But the way this team is trending coupled with the aggressive ownership and front office, it won’t be boring.
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