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Was at the game last night, watched poole and dray all pregame, looked a little awkward but mostly like everyone has moved on. Game was fun and JK/Wise def stole the show. If kuminga can average even 3-4 assists/game... watch out!

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We need a nickname for the young guns squad. Any thoughts?

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JV dubs

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I'm very happy today for JP news. I usually don't worry about next year. I'm enjoyin this brightful 2022. Tomorrow, I'll see

Have a nice day guys. Love you all, Sabri most of all for her deep twitter research

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I've got my Wiseman supporter receipts. Just in case anyone wanted to know.

My actual point/question is this... sometime around mid-season a team offers us a superstar like say... just for arguments sake let's say Chicago offered LaVine for Dray, Wiggs, and maybe a pick or a Baldwin type. Knowing you're losing Wiggs for nothing soon enough anyway would you consider it?

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Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022

Lavine would be less valuable to the Warriors than either Dray or Wiggins in next year's playoffs let alone both. He's a good player, but wouldn't make any sense to trade the team's two most valuable defenders for a G when we have Steph, Poole and Klay.

this wouldn't happen for a lot of reasons, but if Anthony Davis was available that would be the right type of skillset to go after if you were trading out Draymond and other assets.

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Sure. But the guy we're getting back isn't really the point and the specific guy I mentioned was just used to illustrated the tier of guy coming back. Which I felt was clear? "a team offers us a superstar like say" I thought made it clear. I guess not. My bad.

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Sure. Just shows probably not likely because it’s a really short list of guys who’d up the Warriors title odds for next year and hard to imagine them being available

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But it isn't about upping the odds. It's about preventing them falling off too far when Wiggs walks and maybe Dray leaves in FA as well.

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They won’t damage the odds for this year though.

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Maybe not. But maybe they should from a game theory perspective.

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2 max-ish contract guys with their deals about run, for one? Can't see any team being willing to give up much for 2 guys heading into FA. Meantime, Wiggs and Dray are quite valuable right now for the Dubs as they chase a ring this year.

''

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I mean, yeah. I chose the Bulls cause like... what are they doing? But for sure it's unlikely cause I can't really find a team with a guy that would be better for making that deal. I mean, not one that we would be better for taking on in exchange for those two. So maybe that makes it a moot point.

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> Knowing you're losing Wiggs for nothing soon enough anyway

I’m not so sure about that.

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I'd love to know how you keep him? Steph, Klay, Poole, plus extensions soon for Wiseman, Kuminga, and Moody. That's even with somehow moving on from Dray's 30 million. Plus even if you sign Wiggs to a team friendly deal who are you protecting for the expansion draft? I mean I cant see ownership sanctioning a 30 million a year deal for Wiggs when that's going to mean something like 80 million in luxury tax payments.

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Bwahaha

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There’s no way Gianni’s demands a trade to the dubs today.

Let’s see if I’m magic.

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Team friendly 1+1 (player option) which gets us to where Klay’s current contract is off the books. Dray probably has to go. Rising cap. Magic beans.

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Why on Earth would Wiggs sign a team friendly 1+1? Klay will be re-upped as long as Curry wants to play. May actually be the same for Dray though I am less sure on that than I was a couple weeks ago.

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Why would KD sign a team-friendly 1+1? Why did Dray sign his team-friendly four year deal, leaving money on the table? After six years of earning max contracts in the wasteland that was Minnesota, now being here in a great environment where he is thriving and competing for championships?

Klay isn’t gonna get max contracts anymore.

I wouldn’t give it great odds but it’s certainly possible.

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I don't think so, with Green's future in huge question. Shouldn't they be able to sign Poole AND Wiggins?

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Obviously I did NOT see that coming.

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My first time watching them play this preseason. I had a couple thoughts-

Firstly: whoever it was the mentioned Rollins’ anticipation was spot on. This kid has it as far as knowing when to get a hand out. To me that signals high basketball IQ. Not sure if that is true or not but I was really impressed.

Secondly: Wise is just different. I remember his first NBA points he almost fumbled a point blank dunk. Now he seems to simplify everything. It is obvious he has put in work. I am very happy for him.

Thirdly: anyone remember RC Pro-Am? Remember the arrows on the track that just made you take off at a bazillion miles an hour? That is Klay. We can have a normal offense, but you put Klay in and the game goes bezerk. There is no one like him.

Fourthly: I am glad Draymond is back, but man I haven’t felt right since last week. It just feels… I don’t know. I trust he has his head in the right place now. I guess it will just take time.

Fifthly: PBJ is long and fearless. I love it.

Sixthly: ahh, I’ll stop here no one reds this far anyways…

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Thank you for giving Klay love. Everyone seems to be dissing him lately, and I'm here like, first game back and gets 17 in the first half completely looking like vintage Klay? Get outta here!

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For two years people watched youtube videos of Klay's best moments going berserk and never missing. I think a lot of us forgot that even at his peak peak he was capable of some terrible games offensively. And capable of long shooting slumps. But he's going to end up averaging twnety a game on around 40% from 3 and he will always compete on the defensive end. There's so much value there. And then like Freddy says when Klay is part of the offense it spreads the other team's D so thin it makes it so the only team capable of stopping the Dubs is the Dubs.

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Happily wearing my Klay on his boat shirt today

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I read that far. And heck yes I remember RC Pro-Am. GREAT game.

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It's a good day to be a longtime Kuminga stan but even I have to admit there's still Good Kuminga and Bad Kuminga. We are seeing more of the former and less of the latter, but bad passes and poor decisions still will occur at young-guy rates. Patience, patience, patience.

Also: I didn't catch the beginning and alas won't scroll 500 comments: was there any formal step taken before the game -- a press conference about The Incident, a Poole announcement, etc., or just roll the ball out there? Were there any obvious Draymond-Poole vibes or non-vibes?

OT: Did anyone else catch the Redeem Team doc on Netflix? It made me think a few things: 1. Wade might have been the best player on the team, even though peak Kobe and near-peak LeBron were there. Wade was beasting, especially in the final game. 2. Coach K comes off as even more annoying than I thought he was, moralizing at every turn about your patriotic/military duty. It comes off to me as a smug lecture about how great the military is and how the rest of us have to humble ourselves before their sacrifice. Or at one point he plays the players the Marvin Gaye national anthem as an all-of-us-are-Americans-united inspiration. This presumes that the players were sitting around not willing to pass the ball until they saw that. Rah rah bullshit. 3. I hadn't remembered Kobe flooring his Laker teammate Pau intentionally the first chance he got. Now that was badass.

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I was definitely not a Kuminga-stan, more a Kuminga hand-wringer (Sleepy wouldn't like me).

I have been incredibly impressed by what he's done between summer league and now. He's not some huge weapon now (yet), but the improvement in decision-making, passing, and individual defense are crazy for one offseason.

I actually can see Kuminga being the Draymond successor next year. I'm not saying he could replace Draymond (no one could), but filling enough of his role that they could tweak the team around it and maybe get 80%.

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Agreed. And then there's all the stuff Kuminga can do that Draymond never could ...

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I also remember Wade as the best on that team -hustled on every play and played his heart out on D as well. Hard to imagine for someone of his stature but I think he was/is underrated.

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Highlight of the game for me was James “Slip” Wiseman actually setting a legit screen.

Other things:

- PBJ going 0-8 shows the right kind of irrational confidence

- DDV missing everything short makes me think/hope it’s as much rust/conditioning as anything else

- Aaron Gordon is a scrub and I’m here for JoKu going head to head with him

- I’m digging the vibes on Rollins island. Come toss a frisbee on the beach with me. Just be careful in the lane, you might get blocked.

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So either Dray (he doesn't opt in or gets traded) or Wiggins won't be here next season?

Trading doesn't really help unless it is trade that allows in Trade Exception (TE). I forget under what circumstances, TE is allowed to occur (instead of matching salaries).

With everything that's happened and the fact that Wiggs is young, my guess is that it will be Dray. Hopefully thought of that doesn't affect the focus this year.

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Something tells me the big 3 will retire here. Unless Detroit for some reason breaks the bank for him there's really no reason for Dray to go anywhere else. I think Wiggs will be the odd man out (because of his salary) with the emergence of Moody and JK

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I hope you're right about the big 3 retiring here, but I wonder if Dray will feel insulted with what they're willing to pay him. I think he may have knocked himself out of the running for any contract near his current level. If they only offer a vet min, will he take it or feel so insulted that he wants to be elsewhere? I don't know, but I actually think staying with the Ws could be his better financial future. Lots of notoriety attached to being a Dub, playing with Steph, and contending for championships. Would he trade all of that for a bigger contract and maybe a shot at the playoffs?

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I hope Wiggins can stay, but if he goes the entire signed roster going into next off-season would be made up of 11 players they drafted; Poole, Klay, Draymond, Looney, Poole, Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody, Baldwin, Rollins and Santos.

Gotta go get Nico, Evans, McCaw and Jessup just to make it really fun.

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Steph: I'm not going to be on the team?

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“I’m sorry sir, if you’re not on the list, I can’t let you in.”

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JK and Moody sliding into Wiggs' spot makes sense. It's possible that Wiggs (and Dray) take some discount.

Is there supposed to be big jump in cap in 24-25 because of new TV deal or is that the following year?

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I dunno, this is going to be Wiggin's last shot at a big long contract, he should take the highest $$$ he can get.

Hopefully that means another All-Star appearance for Contract Year Wiggs.

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Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022

Not necessarily, Wiggins could sign a 1+1 or similar and still sign a fat long contract after somewhere. He’s going to be in high demand for several years.

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Wouldn't rule that out but if one of the young guys blossoms into a star in the next 1-2 years it might be hard to keep everyone even with a discount

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As a long-standing member of the “Poole is the Priority” contingent, this is a glorious day in my book.

I’m still trying to get my head around Poole’s ceiling given his trajectory. The obvious comparison is Steph since that’s who his game is modeled after. Is it crazy to think “Yeah, Steph is the greatest shooter ever, but Poole could be at least as good as Steph in every other facet of the game while being an elected shooter.”?

It seems like Poole has the physical tools, smarts and work ethic to be a legend if he follows Steph’s blueprint.

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RE: Is it crazy to think “Yeah, Steph is the greatest shooter ever, but Poole could be at least as good as Steph in every other facet of the game while being an elected shooter?"

Answer: I don't think it's crazy. He already looks a lot like a young Steph. No one can expect him to shoot as well as the greatest shooter of all time, but he's looking like he could be the next anointed one. My, oh my...

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Honestly, it IS crazy. But Poole is doing some crazy ish

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Hard to peg a ceiling on him because his rate of improvement has been so dramatic. The defensive side is just huge.

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Yeah, he’s got the length and quickness to be a decent defender… if he gets there, it opens worlds of possibilities

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If you put Steph’s defensive effort, execution and smarts and into longer/quicker Poole’s physique, that’s really something.

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Plus Stephs core strength, which he built over time. The guards who are really good to great defenders are all very strong.

Kerr said Poole is now one of the strongest players on the team. So it seems like he’s headed that way:

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That would put him waaaay ahead of where Steph’s strength was at 23.

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I am putting out there: I want the Dubs to meet the Nets in the Finals and beat them in 7 games. Poole gets Finals MVP.

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I can live with that. But whomever they play, how many ever games they win it in, I'd be over the moon to see them repeat with the OGs (even on a last dance) and the young guns ascending.

If I can pick the opponent, I'd be happy for them to face the Celtics again (rivalry angle) or the Bucks (I like Giannis and they've been champions, so a worthy opponent). I wouldn't mind seeing them beat down the Sixers (disappointing Harden is a Warrior tradition) or Nets (vanquishing Durant and Irving's championship aspirations would be delightful -- and must-see tv).

As for how many games, I'd prefer a clean sweep but could live with the gentlemen's version. Go Warriors!

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I want the Warriors to play the Orlando Magic in the finals and beat them in 4.

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4 games, plz

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The Warriors are literally copy/pasting Iggy into Kuminga!

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It will be awesome once he has that defensive mindset!

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I really think he’s more of a bigger, stronger, longer, bouncier GP2 for the foreseeable future.

Iggy’s ability to go in and run things is probably still down the road for Kuminga. If he keeps having assist nights like last night, I’ll shut up and go sit in the corner.

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Also, I think Moody profiles as more an Igoudala-type

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Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022

So I've been seeing flashes of good passing/vision from Kuminga ever since his first summer league and it continued all through his first year even when he was pigeon hoped into a finisher role. It reminds me quite a bit of Poole post All Star Break his rookie year when he started flashing some playmaking chops. The Warriors saw that and actively tried to develop that (especially last year) and it payed off with Poole improving dramatically as a passer.

I can see a similar trajectory with Kuminga so I genuinely think that by the end of this year he'll be averaging 3 assists. Next year when Wiggins is let go and Kuminga secures a starting spot, he'll be averaging 5 assists. I can see it bro!!

As for Moody, I honestly see him more like . .. hmm I don't know who a good comparison for him but Iggy ain't it. He just doesn't have the same explosive athleticism plus flashes of advanced reads. With Moody, I see him making solid reads quickly but never advanced reads.

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I thought that was the best I'd ever seen JFK. Seen outrageous athleticism before, but never so much within the team structure. The hustle on errant balls, the offensive boards, the passing, the fighting over screens. I thought through the 2d quarter we saw him defend the 1, 3 & 5.

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His court awareness is much improved. Last night, PBJ passed the ball out to him even though PBJ was being guarded by Ish Smith. Kuminga noticed that, motioned for PBJ to post up, and then delivered him the ball. Don't think Dubs scored on the play but it showed a lot of maturity and court sense by Kuminga.

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Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022

Development path the Warriors are striving for seems to be Iguodala on offense, Draymond on defense.

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He can a lot more explosive on O than Dre or Dray, methinks. He may never have *quite* the passing chops of either, but he’s a much more natural scorer than both. Say peak Andre with a little Kawhi mixed in?

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With JK's childhood soccer background, it wouldn't surprise me if JK's ability to read the floor and pass is a bit underrated, or just way overshadowed by his explosiveness.

Which is why I was never worried about the Maggette comp, I just don't think JK is that kind of black hole.

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With Dominique/Kemp like explosiveness and power.

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He had some great LeBronian skip passes last night. I remember one where he caught the low man coming for an early double, and whipped a pass to someone in the corner for a wide open 3. Didn’t get paid off, but it was an awesome read and pass. He’s got great vision when he does see the court, imo.

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Oct 15, 2022·edited Oct 15, 2022

oh yeah. JP3.

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Poole, Moody, JK, PBJ and Wiseman will be known as the Light Years 5 in the future

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Damn that's a beautiful future

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Does someone in the organization have a fat crush on Ty Jerome or something? I mean we barely got to see him in the preseason so I guess they already know what they're getting with him.

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Jerome has been up and down at NBA level. More down then up.

But 6’5 PG’s who can shoot and pass don’t grow on trees. He’s a very helpful guy to have on the nights where either Steph or Poole is out.

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He’s been with the team, what, a week? Might be a little early to make a decision based on just his first two pre-season games. Did you hear Kerr’s comments when they got him? They clear felt like they nabbed an upgrade over all the other end-of-roster PG options they had in camp.

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Don't you think they've scouted him and have lots of NBA tape to look at? That's got to be more persuasive than a couple of preseason games.

Or maybe someone has a feeling about him. They seemed to have that with Wiggins, who had shown flashes and could produce but had mostly a disappointing career. Someone felt like they could work with his gifts; maybe they feel that way about Jerome?

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He shot 40% from 3 in a good college conference for 3 years, was drafted in the first round, and has been in the NBA for 3 years, one of them pretty good, so it's not like he is an unknown quantity. My only quibble is that the Warriors aren't exactly hurting for depth at PG.

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Not only a good college conference — an elite team in that conference that ran a very Kerrball-like offense.

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author

Mmm hmm. Those highlight clips of the young guns mixed in with the vets is a wonderful way to wake up in the morning!!!

TUESDAY, HURRY UP!

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Wow. When is the last time a champ team came back looking more dangerous than ever? I think you’d have to wind the clock all the way back to October 2016. (Y’all are lucky to have veteran fans like me who can dig out ancient lore like that). Not expecting 24-0 but the entertainment level may be hitting a new high. Stay golden, pony-dubs!

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