Offseason transactions:
Jordan Poole to the Wizards for Chris Paul
My 1st reaction to this trade, like a lot of Warriors fans: shock, absolutely shocking, for both Chris Paul is actually gonna wear a Warriors jersey, and how we sold our youth to the Wizards for this old head
Yes Poole did have a rather bad season, especially after getting the bagggg and hving a fall in performance
The Draymond thing definitely did affect Poole, from what I know the chemistry and relationship is not there for the whole season
I think Poole's playoff performance was ass, I do think so, but is he a bad player? Not at all. Bro still gives you 20 PPG
The shot selection thing is also a huge problem tho, fumbled so many games for us with those shots. Heading to DC and play with a bigger role, less pressure, is a suitable scenario for him imo
Hope he can take his game into another level in DC and maybe make all star games in the future
Back to CP3 in Warriors, as I mentioned before I was mad and shocked af first glance, our bench is alrdy bad and now our best bench scorer is gone for a guy who barely can score
Well after more thinking, here's what I come up with:
CP3 isn't the CP3 from like 4 years ago, but what he does always, he makes his team better if you give him the key. Clipper days, forming lob city and bringing Clippers success that they never had before. Then to the Rockets, if not the Warriors I think he definitely would hv a ring. He was up 3-2 in WCF and got an injury and Rockets lose the series in Game 7
Then traded to OKC, when no one thought they're keeping competitveness he somehow lead the team to 5th seed with no clear 2nd best player back then, was 1 Lu Dort shot away from conference semis too. How he runs a team is truly magnificent
Got traded again to Phoenix and just the 1st season there he got Phoenix into the playoffs for the 1st time in 10 years, and brought the team into the Finals
Coming to GSW, I expect him to come off the bench as a 6th man. With Moody, GP2, Kuminga TJD and Saric by his side
Chris Paul has done it before, and basketball IQ isn't a thing which will regress through age, he will just help and improve other teammates
We were lacking a true guy to run the bench, I think CP3 is bringing just that (i'll talk bout the bench further down the article again)
Drafting Brandon Podziemski
Considering JP is traded, I think this pick makes much sense
Yes Podz didn't look the best in Summer League, while being drafted as one of the best shooters, a more NBA ready prospect
But, his skillset is still proven. He's a very gd passer, is rlly willing to move the ball around and makes the right passes. He's surprisingly gd at rebounding too, idk how he's getting close to a triple double lol
Also just a reminder that Dubs is the best shooting team in the league. Putting him beside guys like Steph and Klay will just get his shooting better
Ovr, I think on the passing side, CP3 is the perfect mentor for him, while Steph and Klay mentoring on shooting, with the original skillset, I definitely can see him being maybe the next JP and the future backup PG of the team when CP3 is gone
Drafting TJD
Think this 57th pick is from CP3 trade where we also gave up PBJ and Rollins to get this pick. Ofc PBJ hv gd ceiling and which I wanna keep but if I can only choose 1, TJD definitely is my pick for who I prefer
Idk how a NCAA POTY runner up will go 57th OVR, to me he fits a lot of teams and should be considered drafted earlier fs
Jut a unique big man with me saying me might be a replacement for Dray in long term. Bit cappin but I see a lot of similarities.
These 2 are great passing bigs. Dray is more of a point forward which TJD isn't but then both aren't guys who choose to shoot first. They make incredible passes, whether it's finding cutting teammates, kicking the ball back out low post. They just make the right decision which is rare among bigs. The passing is mainly what got me cpmparing TJD to Dray
In the summer league TJD proved it too with multiple amazing passes too, one of them being an acrobatic pass out to the 3 pt line, which I still rmb till now cus it's just talent
No doubt his low post game is gd too, averaging like 20PPG in Indiana. I saw his combine clips he is able to shoot some 3s too which is amazing, very nice to see
His shot blocking at a 6'9 is impressive too, his athleticism allows him to get up so high and is one of the best rim protectors at his height
No cap I think he will break into the regular rotation for the Dubs, he fits perfect
Signing Cory Joseph
Solid i'll say, Cory isn't just another playmaker, his shooting actually seems quite gd too and is progressing through his career. If he can become a good shooter, don't count him out for the regular rotation being like a secondary playmaker
Signing Dario Saric
Great great signing, very happy with it. Although Saric don't rlly hv the defense, he can play as a Nemanja Bejlica in the champion season, great stretching ability, can play a little bit in the post
The offense gonna be crazy when Steph and Klay share the court with Saric
Signing Lester Quinones back on a 2-way
Last year when I 1st saw this kid I rlly isn't a fan, average shooter, not gd defending, dk why they need to sign him
After the summer league, I became a big fan. He rlly reminds me of JP, beside the shooting, he shows that he can be a decent iso scorer, love how he plays with the ball
Bench scoring might still be a problem for the team, if that's the case, Quinones might be a big part of the bench
Pls Warriors give him one of the Jose Alvarado contracts, multi year minimums, I promise it will be a steal of a contract
Signing Usman Garuba on a 2-way
Wise, I think he's one of the better bigs or young bigs to sign in the market, yes he's undersized (shit his pants too), but yea still hv some potential, and Warriors can be a very gd development place for him
Ay he got the confidence too, that's what we like to see, prove em wrong!
Rotation:
Starter: Curry Klay Wiggins Dray Loon
Nth changed here, the same starting lineup, the best starting lineup in the whole league acc to statistics
I 100% don't want CP3 to start, it's just a stupid idea. Our tallest guy will literally be 6'7, that's definitely not working. Also, you don't need CP3 to play with Draymond, there's just an overlap in role and is very excessive
If it ain't broke don't fix it, don't change the starting lineup
Bench: CP3 Moody GP2 Kuminga Saric
As I mentioned above, CP3 is a guy who improves everyone, he has history to improve young guys. With this bench without any ball handlers, CP3 who is the most efficient onball will hv full control of the ball
With the veteran experience, with the right movement of guys, I truly believe CP3 can make the bench like the bubble OKC, himself, Kuminga as SGA, like the project young guy. GP2 as Dort, and 2 other great team players who benefits the team. Moody is always making the right devision, taking the right shot, and Saric, excited how will he play, Nemanja Bejlica 2.0
Reserve: Joseph Podziemski TJD (2-way: Quinones Garuba)
Did talked bout them individually alrdy so not gonna talk much, but Joseph can run the floor as well, if CP3 picks up injury then he should still be a great great backup
I will also wish to see Podz running a bit of PG if we can afford to, he also got the potential to do so, just that his defense is a bit concerning which makes us not willing to do it often, but that all
Watch out for TJD, I rlly think he will play regular mins, around 10 a game, arguably he's the best rim protector in the team and if we need that, he should be able to provide it
We still hv maximum 2 more roster spot and 1 more 2 way spot, I will hope that we can pick up a 7'0+ player, maybe one of those young tall freaks on a 2-way. We will definitely need size, and it doesn't hurt to pick up one of these on 2-way
Also, if there's another veteran 3&D I will love to get one too, some guys close to OPJ, who played a big part on the championship run
As for the last roster spot, leave it open and see if one of the 2-ways deserve to be signed at the deadline, for now I think Quinones have the highest chance
Overall:
If you ask me if this is the dream offseason, i'll have to say, no it isn't. And the main reason of is is because 2 seasons ago we have one thing that maybe no one has in the league, and that's 2 timelines.
Jordan Poole was considered the long term replacement for Curry, the splashing ability, those iso games, it's beautiful to watch. Wiseman never worked, but guys like Moody and Kuminga, one is a very gd 3&D and looks gd fitting beside Poole, and Kuminga showed promising future
But now, Poole's gone, with the player getting back being Chris Paul old head, the future timeline is ruined, slightly? Kuminga impresses me in Preseason. The shooting is improved, handles are more confident, he looks like the next young guy to breakout. While Moody, he looks even more efficient, still him. He will hv increased gametime and role eventually
And Podz and TJD played well in Preseason too. Yes Podz still hvn’t show that he’s the shooter ppl thought he is before the draft, but other stuff, the passing is great, above average rebounder at his height, even the defense is decent, saw him draw some charges. And TJD, well yes he’s still not on the level to guard star bigs like AD, or Sabonis, but against some weaker bigs, or just to switch on guards in the post, he dominates. Still can’t forget that block on his own teammate in college JHS vs Lakers. The screens he set looks promising too, brick wall. If Dray and Loon can teach him how to master Warriors system screens, league’s not ready for us
The preseason rlly gave me a lot of hope, kind reminder that Draymond hvn’t touch the court too. Last season when Draymond isn’t on the court, we failed to run the team properly and it relies on Steph masterclass to win. This year, even when Dray is out, CP3 looks to be the perfect backup on running the team. It’s beautiful to see there’s a backup for Draymond’s playmaking
Im not gonna say that we’re winning the chip fs, cus ofc i will im a Dub Nation fan, but all i gonna say is, we are back!
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Literally started this project since August