The Golden State Warriors are bent on winning another NBA title and cap their magical season by being back-to-back champions though LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are still in the way.
The Cavs were able to rout the Warriors in game 3 but after seeing the first two games of the NBA Finals, the Warriors are looking pretty good. To recall, the Warriors got a big lift in the first two games from Shaun Livingston (game 1) and then Draymond Green (game 2).
The fact that head coach Steve Kerr has the luxury of a deep bench makes the Warriors pretty dangerous at least for this year. Next year may be a different story.
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will still be around but it will be their supporting cast that may take a big hit. Apparently eight Warriors are set to become free agents. That list includes:
- Harrison Barnes
- Festus Ezeli
- Andrew Bogut
- Leandro Barbosa
- Marreese Speights
- Anderson Varejao
- Brandon Rush
Of the mix, Barnes, Bogut, Barbosa and Speights are players that have been making a difference and the Warriors will likely try to retain them. But the question here is whether Warriors’ management has enough to finance their salaries.
Like most NBA players opting out this year, the issue will be on the new salaries that free agents will command. Barnes is likely to ask for one, same with Bogut and Speights. The other names are expected to do the same so it will be a sensitive dilemma that the Warriors should be mapping out right now.
While the “Big Three” of the Warriors (Curry, Thompson and Green) are safe, it remains that he team has made waves following their battle cry “Strength in Numbers”. That has become evident in the NBA playoffs and losing a key face next year could be a telling factor.
Right now, the Warriors are more concerned with the NBA Finals and cannot afford to let up. Once it is over, win or lose, that is another reality that the Golden State Warriors need to prepare for.
