Golden State Warriors: Breaking Down Their Options for the Rest of the Season

With Sunday's painful and frustrating loss to the lowly Toronto Raptors, the Warriors fell to a 14-20 record, which is third worst in the Western Conference. They are five games out of a playoff spot, and must leapfrog four teams to make the postseason .

The Warriors need to make up their minds on their approach to the rest of the season as soon as possible. There are several options that they could use, but they must choose one and stick with it. Here are some of their suggested routes:

Option No. 1 - Play their young guys/reserves, more rest for their starters.

This would be the option that is often associated with "tanking" the season. That is, losing as much games as possible so that a high draft pick is guaranteed. The Warriors will not even have a draft pick if they don't finish with at least the seventh worst record in the league (thanks to Chris Mullin and Chris Cohan). Considering the depth and talent that is in the NBA Draft this year, this is a draft that they do not want to miss out on. 

Now, no team is going to lose games on purpose. What the Warriors should do if they choose this route is give more playing time to their young players. Start Charles Jenkins, Klay Thompson, Brandon Rush and Ekpe Udoh. Don't be afraid to give Jeremy Tyler more playing time. On the contrary, give Monta Ellis, David Lee and Stephon Curry more rest. Even go as far as letting Curry sit out the remainder of the season so his ankle can heel.

This is the best option for the Warriors to go, since their chances of making the playoffs are slim. 

Option No. 2 - Make a trade

The Warriors have been active on the rumor mill, reportedly interested in Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, among others.

Making a trade for any of these players would likely involve dealing Monta Ellis, David Lee or Stephon Curry, breaking up the "foundation" that GM Larry Riley had built. 

Keep in mind that one player cannot and will not suddenly bolster this team into the playoffs. If the Warriors really want to shake things up, they should make a blockbuster deal that changes their roster significantly (think the "We Believe" team).

Option No. 3 - Do Nothing

Of course, the Warriors could make no changes, and try to make the playoffs with their current team. This does not look likely, as evidenced by Sunday's loss at the Raptors. Monta Ellis and David Lee cannot simply carry the team on their shoulders, while the other players just run around aimlessly. 

Just to save some face and avoid utter embarrassment, the Warriors should choose one of the above options.

Option No. 4 - Fire Mark Jackson

Firing their coach certainly rattles things up. It is safe to say that Jackson has not had a good season thus far, and firing him would not come as a complete surprise. Granted, he hasn't coached a full season in the NBA yet, but this is a way for the Warriors to say,"We're not satisfied with sub-par basketball."

So, imagine that you're the Warriors' GM Larry Riley. What do you do? Which option do you pick, and how will you go about carrying it out? Answer the poll above and feel free to comment below.