The Golden State Warriors are amidst what could be a telling offseason. Their chances at an NBA Title were cut short when they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Some fans are left wondering what could have been after they turned their season around following the trade deadline deal to acquire Jimmy Butler.
The Warriors were triumphant in their first NBA Playoffs series against the Houston Rockets, though it wasn't without a road bump. In Game 2, Butler took a hard fall after being upended and landed on his tailbone. He did not return in that game and was forced to miss Game 3 of the series. He returned for Game 4 and helped lead the Warriors to a 109-106 victory with a 27-point effort.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
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The Warriors went on to win the series in seven games, but had a quick turnaround before taking on the Timberwolves in the next series. While they went on to win Game 1, the damage had been done when Stephen Curry left the game with a hamstring injury.
It was speculated that Curry could've returned if the series had gone to a Game 6. Unfortunately, the Warriors went on to lose the next four games while Curry could only watch. Now, they'll use the offseason to gear up for a run at the NBA Finals next season.
One player who was essential to both their last NBA Championship in 2022 and run this past season was Andrew Wiggins. He was the fundamental piece in the trade that landed Butler with the Warriors.
According to NBA Insider Brett Siegel, the Miami Heat have made Wiggins available ahead of Wednesday's NBA Draft.
“Teams are wondering what is next with the Miami Heat after striking out on a Durant trade," wrote Siegel. "Miami continues to make Andrew Wiggins available in trade talks and would be willing to part with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft for an upgrade alongside Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, sources said.”
It remains to be seen what type of team could use Wiggins. Likely a team that's in the market for a three-and-d player. We saw Wiggins play that exact role for the Warriors and it could be argued he was the tipping point that allowed the Warriors to prevail.
The Warriors will likely be busy this offseason, as they look to add a true center. In both the Rockets series and the Timberwolves series, lineups that featured two big men at a time proved problematic for the Warriors team, which lacked height. Jonathan Kuminga will likely be the best avenue for the Warriors to add such a player.