Big Changes Warriors Must Make If They Miss NBA Playoffs

The Golden State Warriors carried NBA championship expectations into this season.

They may not wind up even punctuating it with a playoff appearance.

That doesn't necessarily mean the Dubs' dynasty is definitely over, but it does show how much work must be done to give this team even a glimmer of hope to keep its title dreams alive.

Add an Impact Wing

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 27: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Chase Center on January 27, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Even in his age-36 season, Stephen Curry still seems capable of leading a championship run. But history's greatest shooter can't do it on his own.

His supporting cast needs an upgrade, specifically one that slots a capable co-star alongside him. That's why the Warriors made an ambitious run at LeBron James ahead of the trade deadline, and that will not—and should not—be the last time this team takes a big swing at a frontcourt difference-maker.

"The Warriors' lead decision-makers still believe Curry's longevity gives them a couple more seasons of possible contention if the roster around him is up to it," Sam Amick, Jovan Buha and Anthony Slater reported for The Athletic. "If there's a path to LeBron, Giannis Antetokounmpo (their dream scenario), impending free agent Paul George or a reunion with Kevin Durant, they will explore it."

Granted, these elite players surely populate most wish lists across the league, but Curry's presence and this ownership group's aggressiveness makes a substantial pickup feel at least the slightest bit feasible. It's unclear who that player would be or exactly how they could get him, but this is clearly Golden State's best path back to contention.

Take a Big Chunk out of Klay Thompson's Salary or Just Let Him Walk

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 11: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors is introduced before the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 11, 2024 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Not even a calendar year has passed since ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski brought word that Klay Thompson held an "expectation" of being "rewarded" with a maximum contract extension. Yet, the notion seems so laughable now that it may as well have been a lifetime ago.

For clarity, that max deal was supposedly going to come last offseason, and it obviously didn't. Since then, the now-34-year-old Thompson has continued to trudge through a decline that was clearly accelerated by the ACL tear and ruptured Achilles that cost him the entire 2019-20 and 2020-21 campaigns.

A loss of mobility has sapped him of his former shape-shifting powers on the defensive end, and neither his shooting nor his scoring has reverted to his pre-injury levels. He's wound up in a reserve role for the first time since his rookie season, which felt like an outright admission—from the club for sure, if not from Thompson himself—that he's no longer the player he once was.

That's a long-winded way of saying his upcoming venture into unrestricted free agency should result in a massive paycut from his current $43.2 million salary, per Spotrac. One would hope that, given their shared championship history, there's a number that works for both sides, but if not, the Warriors need to know it's far less damaging to let him walk than it would be to sign him to a bloated salary he'll never live up to.

Move on from Andrew Wiggins

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 11: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on March 11, 2024 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

This could be the trickiest call the front office makes all offseason, as the player this Warriors team really needs is a lot like the one Andrew Wiggins became during their sprint to the 2022 title.

The problem is this version of Wiggins is almost unrecognizable from that one. Whatever clicked for him then isn't clicking any longer.

Some might say he's reverted to the old form from his Minnesota Timberwolves days, but the numbers say he's fallen farther than even before. His stat line heading into Wednesday night was littered with career-worsts, including his 12.5 points per game and 12.0 player efficiency rating, per Basketball-Reference.

Golden State has zero reason to believe he'll suddenly snap out of this funk, and it can't afford to risk waiting around for that to happen while Curry plays out whatever is left of his prime. A close-but-not-quite-there championship-hopeful with a decent-sized runway can afford to take the gamble of Wiggins figuring things out, but that description doesn't fit the Dubs.