The current core of the Golden State Warriors may not be together for long, as Klay Thompson 's future with the franchise has remained uncertain. Other stars have also been floated as possible offseason targets in the event of a roster shakeup, the most prominent of which has been Paul George.
Bill Simmons discussed the Warriors' outlook on his podcast, sharing possible plans the organization can take. His last resort for the team could have its fans shaking in their boots.
"The third tier will be, 'Let's just rebuild, and [Stephen] Curry will just sell out the arena, and that's what we're gonna do. We have no chance to win the title,'" Simmons said . "My guess is they're too competitive to do that. But that might be the smart move."
Warriors could go star-hunting
The Big 3 of Curry , Thompson, and Draymond Green have done wonders for the franchise. However, last season showed that the trio might not cut it anymore, as Golden State failed to reach the playoffs despite the Splash Brothers appearing in at least 74 games each.
With Klay and the front office reportedly not agreeing, the Warriors might have to consider letting the sharpshooter walk and fielding a wildly different lineup starting next season. George could be an upgrade, and Simmons put him in the first tier of potential moves for the team.
The Ringer founder categorized Jimmy Butler in the same tier as George, although the Miami Heat aren't likely to let their leader go just like that. Bill also mentioned Brandon Ingram and Zach LaVine as second-tier targets, but he quickly nipped any prospective trades in the bud involving them. Ingram might not want to play under Steve Kerr after a disappointing stint with Team USA last summer, and LaVine doesn't really bring much to the table, particularly on the defensive end.
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Warriors could run it back
Perhaps the Dubs' best option is to do everything they can to keep the band together. Letting Thompson go might peeve Curry badly, and they owe it to the superstar to make him happy after everything he has done to help the team win multiple championships and raise the franchise's value exponentially.
Re-signing Klay may be easier said than done, though. While the top brass has continued to reiterate that such a move is its priority, it has seemingly restrained from giving the five-time All-Star the deal that he wants. However, it's understandable for the Warriors to hesitate because he is turning 35 in February and has been unreliable in their most recent elimination contests.
A renowned NBA analyst already suggested that Thompson could make a Dwyane Wade-esque move this free agency. Some fans might remember that the Miami Heat legend joined his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, in 2016, surprising many who thought he would spend his entire career with just one team.
It remains to be seen if Curry will part ways with his Splash Brother this summer and how his and Golden State fans would react if that were the case.
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