12. Golden State Warriors
Draft Picks: Quinten Post
Offseason Acquisitions: De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, Buddy Hield, Lindy Waters III
Departures: Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Dario Saric
The fall of the dynasty is in the present. Following years of dominance and an unprecedented five-year NBA finals run, the Golden State Warriors are down to Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and maybe Kevon Looney as the only dynasty leftovers.
The Warriors notably lost franchise stalwart and one of the best shooters of all time, Klay Thompson, to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. With limited salary cap space, the Warriors did a fine job replacing Thompson—signing defensive ace De'Anthony Melton and sharpshooter Buddy Hield.
However, after a so-so 2023-24 campaign, the Warriors possess a similar, yet older roster. Sure, some intriguing prospects are littered throughout the roster, but no future headliners exist. Perhaps Golden State features Jonathan Kuminga as the second option to prepare for the future.
It's an unnerving time in the Bay Area. Do the Warriors prioritize the present iteration of the squad led by 36-year-old Steph Curry? Or, do they set their sights on the future after a subpar early season showing? Only time will tell, but if this offseason was any indication, it appears the Warriors brass is content competing for a spot in the play-in.