The Golden State Warriors had a tumultuous campaign last season, but they still managed to reach the Western Conference semifinals. Draymond Green’s punching incident with Jordan Poole loomed over the Warriors locker room all season long.
Steph Curry also suffered a couple of injuries that made it difficult for the Warriors to earn homecourt advantage for the playoffs. Andrew Wiggins went through something personal and Klay Thompson struggled in the playoffs.
After getting eliminated by the LA Lakers in the postseason, Golden State also lost general manager Bob Myers. His replacement, Mike Dunleavy Jr., immediately pulled off an insane trade to acquire Chris Paul in exchange for Poole, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins.
5 bold predictions for the Golden State Warriors next season
The Golden State Warriors’ acquisition of Chris Paul baffled many because it was a risky trade. They got the second-oldest player in the league in exchange for one of the most promising scoring guards and a couple of young guys. Not to mention, Paul’s injury history makes it even riskier.
However, Paul’s addition ensures the extension of the championship window for Golden State’s “Big 3” of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. “CP3” can do wonders for the Warriors’ offense, especially if Curry or Green sits. He could turn young guys such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody into world-beaters.
On that note, let’s take a look at five predictions for the Warriors next season.
#1, Klay Thompson will sign an extension
Klay Thompson played in his first full season since suffering two major injuries. Thompson was really solid in the regular season, but was poor in the playoffs. He’s entering the final year of his contract and will look for one huge final paycheck.
The Golden State Warriors signed Draymond Green to a four-year, $100 million deal this summer. Thompson will likely sign a contract similar to what Green received. The two sides began discussing a new deal, but it probably won’t into fruition early in the season since the deadline for Klay’s extension is June 30, 2024.
#2, Andrew Wiggins rediscovers All-Star form
Andrew Wiggins finally realized his potential last year when he was an integral part of the 2022 championship team. Wiggins also became an All-Star that season and became the second option on offense for the Golden State Warriors. However, he regressed last season and endured a tough campaign.
Wiggins played in just 37 games last season, missing a good chunk of the regular season due to personal reasons. But with all of that behind him, he could easily rediscover his All-Star form and helped the Warriors return to being a Western Conference powerhouse.
#3, Steph Curry finishes in the Top 5 of MVP voting
Steph Curry finished ninth in MVP voting last season, which was warranted because he only played 56 games. Curry averaged 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists, while narrowly missing out on a 50-40-90 season. He shot 49.3 % from the field, 42.7% from beyond the arc and 91.5% from the free throw line.
With Chris Paul likely facilitating more, Curry will have more opportunities to score as an off-guard. He could average more points, but will need to stay healthy if he wants to be eligible to win the MVP next season. The NBA has a new rule wherein a player must play a minimum of 65 games to win an award.
#4, Chris Paul wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Chris Paul will likely be a starter for the Golden State Warriors in the early parts of next season, probably as a courtesy to the veteran guard. If things don’t go quite as planned, Paul could become a sixth man and help the second unit take over games.
If Paul embraces his role, it increases his chances of winning an NBA championship. If he goes all in on his desire to win a ring, he’ll have to come off the bench, which could do wonders for the Warriors. If “CP3” succeeds in his new role, it’s not impossible to think that he can win the Sixth Man of the Year next season.
#5, Golden State Warriors wins 2024 NBA championship
This list won’t be complete without the boldest prediction for the Golden State Warriors – they will be the 2024 NBA champions. It’s not impossible to see Golden State win a fifth championship in eight years, especially if the Chris Paul experiment works.
Steph Curry also has the extra motivation to win his fifth ring after comparing himself to Magic Johnson, who has five titles. Draymond Green already proclaimed that he’ll be using Paul as motivation and help him win a championship. Nevertheless, it’s a tall task considering how good the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns will be next season.