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Apr 1, 2022·edited Apr 1, 2022

Two-Way Wiggs. The "Two-Way" is for: their are two ways to look at him. You can go deep into the numbers (like on/off) and show that Wiggs is a Net Zero, having little or no impact on team wide numbers across the board, good or bad. You can look at other numbers (like lineups) and see that he is in 75% of the best 3-4-5 man lineups, reminding one of the ground on a 3-prong plug. Yeah, the plug will still work without it, but it's a safety feature. He has been on the floor with the Dubs winning a lot and losing a lot, but rarely do we speak of him as the guy that won or lost the game.

The question is, will he be a Warrior in 2022-2023, especially considering the Warriors Salary Cap issues moving forward? Imo, this is why he will be moved.

1. Dubs still invested in the core. For good or bad, Curry-Klay-Dray are playing through 2023-2024.

2. Dubs aren't moving off Wiseman, JK or Moody.

3. Dubs will give Poole a nice extension.

4. Dubs will likely retain Looney.

5. Dubs will retain GP2

Curry-Poole-Klay-Moody, playing 36 min a game each would cover point-2guard-small forward positions. Klay & Moody are well suited to play the small forward position and Poole's ascendance makes this decision simple. JK can also log time in at small forward in some big lineups.

Moving forward I think the team will look like this.

1. the Old School: Curry-Klay-Dray-Loon

2. new kids on the block: Poole-Wiseman-JK-Moody

3. must have: GP2

4. would really really really like to keep: OPJ

5. 2022 1st round pick playing ping pong with the G-League.

6. Is their any room left in the elevator? last minute adds if there is room: D Lee & JTA

Plus what comes back on a return from trading Wiggs. I would be looking for some combination of draft capital and 1 or 2 good rotation players to round out the roster.

Lastly, Warriors need to find ways to beef up their G-League team. Our two-way players need to be more impactful and the pickings were pretty slim this year.

In my mind, given the team's salary issues, Wiggins is the odd man out. Buy low, sell high. He will only make it a touch decision if he shows out in the playoffs. But does anyone expect that?

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Road map looks pretty sound for this early stage, but I don’t think the FO trade Wiggs. I think they give him a low ball offer as a UFA (whatever change Joe has left in his pocket after Poole & forecasting Wise/JK etc). Because moving on from him on a season earlier than we have to will make contending that much harder next season.

Andre already talked about how he perceived the FO narrative that you can easily string together two championship eras as ‘disrespectful’. Ie it’s damn hard to achieve and you need vets. So for this reason, I think we keep Wiggs as long as we possibly can because he’ll be better than anything we get back in a trade.

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I agree, but I am basing these thoughts on the idea that Lacob sets a maximum limit to payroll that would force moving off one of the larger contracts. And the idea that it looks like Poole is just going to push Klay into the small forward spot anyway. And given Klay's loss of lateral mobility due to injuries, and his ability to guard bigger players, that seemed like it might be happening anyway.

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It's weird to me that so many people are focused on off season moves the Warriors need to make when it's obvious that so many of those decisions will be strongly influenced by what happens in the post season. Wiggins scores 4 a game and Warriors exit in the first round is a much different convo than Wiggins keeps Giannis in front of him at all times helping hold him under 25 points a game and scores 17 on the way to a title. What does Kuminga look like? Poole, even (though he's not much of a question mark at this point, even with a sub par showing in the playoffs) etc.

Yeah things haven't been looking to great lately, but I am still holding out hope that a healthy Curry and a reuniting of the old guys can happen and they can put it together in time to get on a roll in the playoffs.

Even if the Warriors don't win a 'chip, a competitive loss in the 2nd round or the conference finals will also color their off-season options (remember that they had trouble attracting free agents last off season because they weren't seen as a contender).

I mean, enjoy being a fan however you want, of course, but the knowns are known (Curry will be on the team next year :) we just don't have enough information to remotely speculate about the unknowns yet and what that will inform us is this exciting thing coming up called the playoffs.

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Not focused on off-season. More bored than anything else. lol Agree that the playoffs will have an impact on the off season. But my guess is that it will just reinforce what we already know the players. In other words, I don't see Poole wilting in the playoffs and I don't think we'll see "Playoff Wiggs" emerge. Do you think we reach game 7 2nd round?

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>Do you think we reach game 7 2nd round?

That's the thing. I have no idea right now. This team is really hard to figure. If Steph comes back 100-ish% and everyone finally stays healthy, I think they have a pretty good chance to regain their rhythm. If they get back in that groove I think they have a great chance but that's a lot of ifs!

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Apr 1, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot, Daniel Hardee

I'm feeling a little less Gold-Blooded than Mr. Hardee at the moment, but I will say, it is always incredible watching Draymond singlehandedly erase transition opportunities. Multiple times in a game, whether it's a 1-on-3 or a less disadvantaged transition play, he somehow splits the difference in a way that denies the basket—or often dissuades the shot attempt entirely—on plays that look at first like a guaranteed easy score. Once in a while I see someone else hustle and get back in transition but no one else on any team so often successfully stops a transition play from even happening.

One of these days it would be cool to see an E1P of Draymond's transition defense.

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Well-said.

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Lakers got a game tomorrow after playing in Utah tonight. They go up against the Pelicans in LA.

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NOP will be doubly motivated to get a W, since if the Lakers fall into the lotto, the Pels likely snag their draft pick, whereas if they sneak into the playoffs, the pick goes to Memphis (#1-10 to NOP, #11-30 to Memphis).

Dub Nation should be similarly motivated, since — beyond the joy of seeing the LOLakers miss the play-ins — the last thing we want to see is the Grizz adding any more young talent.

Of course, there's motivation, and then there's the fact that LeBron and AD are both expected back for tonight's game.

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Meanwhile, the Spurs play two straight on the road against the tanking Trailblazers

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Jazz beat the Lakers 122-109 and snap their five-game losing streak. They take the #5 spot of the West and are tied with the Nuggets with a 46-31 record. Lakers fall to the #11 spot with a 31-45 record.

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Watch CP3's head, the 'under and up' move into Wiggs jaw... makes me want to hang him by the nose!

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Absolute pest. I also noticed Book getting under Wiggs a lot when he was going up for shots. I can’t help but wonder if he’s getting these sneaky dirty plays from the master on his team

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Let’s not forget Booker pushed Baynes onto a Steph who’s hand was then crushed.

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> Absolute pest

You misspelled “POS.”

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Damn spell check.

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That is one dirty player.

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Come on Lakers. You can do it!

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I'd rather the Jazz win as it would give me satisfaction to see the Lakers not even make it into the play-in tourney. I think the Dubs will take care of business against the Jazz on Saturday night; if the Dubs win, they'll be 3 games up with 4 to play and hold the tiebreaker by winning the season series 3-1.

If Dubs can play like they did against Phoenix last night, I wouldn't be surprised to see them sweep their last five. They have a B2B Sat and Sun, but have a couple days off before Saturday and then don't play again until next Thursday, so Kerr might actually give Klay and OPJ some run in B2B games.

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The tie breaker is key for us. I think Dray & Dre have a repeat performance and we beat the Jazz

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I'm rooting for the Jazz. If the Jazz lose, they'll be on a six-game losing streak and will be extra fired up to beat us this Saturday.

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I wonder about that logic. It's the tail end of the regular season, and the Jazz are jockeying for playoff position. With so few games left, they ought to be fired up every night. What more do they need? They're on a five-game losing streak now, so aren't they extra fired up to win tonight? Weren't they extra fired up when they were on a four-game losing streak? Wouldn't they be fired up to beat us even if they win this game? If not, they need to get their head right. Same applies to us.

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A Nets vs Bucks series (or even a Sixers vs Nets series) might be the greatest first round series since We Believe.

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Bulls beat the Clippers 135-130 in overtime.

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Oof. DeRozan had a chance to win the game for the Bulls by making three FTs in a row, but he missed the last one. Game heads to overtime.

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Bucks beat the Nets in overtime 120-119.

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Pistons beat the 76ers. Wait, what?

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Harden's been shooting poorly (26% tonight). He had 18 points, 8 of them FTs. If he didn't get half the calls, his numbers would be worse. Lol.

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Apr 1, 2022·edited Apr 1, 2022

Nothing (basketball related) will make me happier than seeing Harden retire ringless and have his legacy talked about a decade from now as a playoff choker/ team cancer.

I guess if this Warriors core can get at least one more chip, that'll be up there, too.

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Totally random question but, did the Bulls retire number 45 for Jordan, too? Has anyone worn it for them since then?

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Apr 1, 2022·edited Apr 1, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Not retired. Paul Shirley, Luke Schenscher, Rasual Butler, and Denzel Valentine have worn it since MJ.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/numbers.html

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Cool. I thought there was someone relatively recently (like within the last ten years) who I had seen wearing it for them. Must have been Valentine.

Bonus question: are the Heat the only team MJ didn't play for who retired 23 in his honor?

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Mar 31, 2022·edited Mar 31, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Do you guys think Klay doesn't push it beyond what is needed come Playoffs as he is now? I believe he will be smart about it especially with Steph on the floor. He is pushing it hard right now (on O and D) because he wants to be ready for Playoffs in a hurry.

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I feel like hes the playing the same he always had, hes just getting the ball way more and we are having him run way more pick and rolls for some reason, every damm time he catches the ball hes calling for someone to set him a pick

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I believe Steph & Dray will help get Klay back in his ideal role.

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I believe this is wishful thinking.

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Hear Hear!

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Mar 31, 2022·edited Mar 31, 2022Liked by Daniel Hardee

Either Suns were playing at our level (so to say) and Cam+McGee > Steph OR Suns don't scare me like Grizz. We beat Suns both at home and road. So guys should feel more confident.

Bring on Suns in Rnd#2.

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That is true

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Ayton... big for nothing when Draymond is guarding him.

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Those "we have no answer for DeAndre Ayton" posts are going to age like milk

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But we need a REAL big!

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I mean... I think we need a regular season big who can play OK while Dray is injured or being load-managed. Extra so as he gets older.

Pretty sure the plan was for Wiseman to be that this year and his injury setbacks just meant that never happened.

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I still think for playoff halfcourt offense they really need a rollman who will actually threaten defenses.

Dray, Loon, and Beli just don't do that.

Without that, it becomes extra important to spread the floor with 4 to 5 shooters and let the slashers (Curry, Poole, Wiggins, JK) do their thing in space.

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For sure… but between Dray, Looney, Otto, and Bjelica, we’ll be ok for the 16 game season this year.

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We do still need a real big. I'm still hoping next season he's this athletic freak named James Wiseman.

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Suns … meh.

Again, Patrick: only bring us news that actually affects our chances. :-)

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One thing I envy about the Suns is their cap status. The have Paul and Booker locked up to reasonable contracts for the next 3 years, roughly $30m each, Bridges for $20m, and Shamet for $11m. Ayton is due for a big payday next year but that's about it. That is a pretty good core team that still has some wiggle room to add a good player with the non-taxpayer MLE.

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I think they'll be a tax team next year, unless they cheap out on Ayton and/or do a bunch of other salary shedding

they have $125M of existing salary commitments on the books, and if Ayton is up for ~$30M… that puts them well into the tax, beyond even what they could get out of by shedding Saric's $9M

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Paul contract will not be reasonable in a year or two.

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RemovedApr 1, 2022·edited Apr 1, 2022
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The Suns don’t actually have any more salary flexibility than the Warriors do.

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they do have a greater range of salary levels on their roster/less money tied up at the top

that's cause the Warriors have a top 10 all time player & the Suns don't, ultimately one of those good problems to have

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