NBA: The Golden State Warriors Will Be a Legitimate Contender Next Season

It is safe to say that the Golden State Warriors are in the midst of another disappointing season. They are 22-39, and on their way to another non-playoff season. To be exact, this team has made the playoffs just once in the past 18 seasons.

Despite the team’s poor play, the Warriors have a tremendously loyal fanbase, drawing close to 19,000 fans per game at Oracle Arena. There is no doubt that these fans are frustrated—tired of this team failing them time after time.

Well, the wait for Warriors’ fans may be nearly over. Starting next season, the Golden State Warriors will be perennial legitimate contenders for years to come.

Why?

The main reason is the addition of new and improved players. Compare the Warriors’ starting lineup now with their projected lineup next season:

4/18 vs. Lakers

PG – Charles Jenkins

SG – Klay Thompson

SF – Dorell Wright

PF – Mickell Gladness

C – Jeremy Tyler

Starting four rookies and Dorell Wright will not get the job done against most teams—except the Charlotte Bobcats.

Projected 2012-2013 lineup

PG – Stephon Curry

SG – Klay Thompson

SF – Dorell Wright (or a possible lottery draft pick)

PF – David Lee

C – Andrew Bogut

Now that’s a lot better. With the exception of the SF position, this is a solid, bona fide lineup.

Curry should be back after a full off-season to recover from his ankle injury.

Klay Thompson—who is the second-best rookie in the league behind Kyrie Irving—is already a proven sharpshooter and should have a even better campaign next season.

The Warriors already know what they will get from David Lee—a walking double-double every single game.

Finally, there’s Andrew Bogut. Warriors’ fans may be mad right now because ownership just traded Monta Ellis for an injured player, but they do not realize what Bogut will bring to this team. The Warriors got the player that they have been looking for the past twenty years—a true center.

The last time they had a center this good was about four decades ago—Robert Parish. Bogut will get the rebounds and play the defense down low—which the Warriors have not been doing this season. Remember all those points that Gasol and Bynum scored against the Warriors on Wednesday night by simply forcing their way to the basket? Things won’t be so easy with Bogut in there.

To be honest, this may be the Milwaukee Bucks' the worst trade of the season.

Another thing Bogut does well is pass. Both he and David Lee are outstanding passers for big men. Imagine Andrew Bogut and David Lee inside, kicking it out to Curry and Thompson to shoot threes! Man, I can feel that play developing already.

What’s more, all four of these guys are under the age of 30, so this group will be together for a long time.

Now, add that mystery lottery draft pick that they have been hoping for at the SF position, and this is a playoff-caliber roster. Imagine a player like Michael-Kidd Gilchrist filling in that SF position.

Believe me or not, the Golden State Warriors will be a very dangerous team next season. With these players in the starting lineup—and some more additions via trade, free agency, or the draft—I can easily see the Warriors at least making the postseason in 2012-2013.

There is hope for those fans who come to Oracle Arena every night just to watch their team lose. There is hope, because—starting next year—the Warriors will be perennial contenders for a long, long time.