Why Warriors are at a perilous crossroads

The Golden State Warriors’ Christmas night thriller against the Los Angeles Lakers mirrored their state as a franchise.

Steph Curry provided a familiar moment for fans, hitting a trey to tie the score at 113 with six seconds left. This moment of joy was fleeting, though, as Austin Reaves blew by Andrew Wiggins for the winning layup in Los Angeles’ 115-113 win.

It was a great game for NBA fans, but for the Golden State franchise, it may have served as a reality check. After a 10-2 start, the Warriors seem more like a play-in team. Ahead of Friday’s game at the Los Angeles Clippers, they are 15-14 and 10th in the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs, who play at the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, are right behind them at 15-15.

Wednesday’s loss was just the latest in what has been a quick downward spiral. The Warriors have lost 11 of their past 14 games. The trade for guard Dennis Schroder has done little to overcome the major issues with this roster. He’s just trying to figure out how to fit in. Generating easy offense was never an issue when the Warriors were collecting trophies with the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and even mid-range assassin Shaun Livingston.

Now, outside of Curry defying odds for players with his size (6-foot-2) and age (36), the Warriors are a mix of young players prone to inconsistency and lacking proven elite skills. They have solid veterans in Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Buddy Hield, Kevon Looney and Kyle Anderson, but they aren’t built to provide the secondary scoring threat that’s needed alongside Curry. 

If it wants to maximize the rest of Curry’s prime years, Golden State must make a move. It has been connected in trade rumors involving Heat star Jimmy Butler. This door may have been shut, though, with Miami president Pat Riley saying Butler won’t be traded. If Riley holds true to his words, the options are limited for the Warriors. 

If the goal is to simply earn a playoff spot and give fans at least a few more games of ball to enjoy, sure, there are moves they could make to accomplish this. But to compete for a Western Conference title, the front office must get creative. The top three teams in the West are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and memphis Grizzlies. These teams are deeper, younger and more skilled than Golden State. Their rosters weren’t built overnight, either. 

Thus here’s the dilemma in the Bay Area: As constructed, the Warriors aren’t built to compete today or tomorrow. Curry is much closer to the end than the beginning of his career. At this point, he shouldn’t have to carry such a heavy load. Perhaps he’s starting to feel that burden. 

Curry will miss the Warriors’ game against the Clippers on Friday night because of knee tendinitis. After the Lakers game, a reporter asked Golden State head coach Steve Kerr about giving Curry rest, and he mentioned how Curry played “hard minutes,” adding, “We have to help him get through the regular season.”

Sitting Curry aside, the front office must do whatever it takes to provide the help that Kerr notes. The picture should be clear for this franchise. The young star talent to help bridge the gap into the next generation isn’t on the roster. The hope was that 22-year-old Jonathan Kuminga would have stepped into this role, but his full development may not happen in Golden State.

It’s a dangerous spot for the Warriors. They have an older superstar still capable of going off during any game. Curry dropped 38 points against the Lakers, but it wasn’t enough. That’s because this roster isn’t good enough to truly compete.

In what should be a top-heavy conference for the foreseeable future, Golden State can quickly find itself in the worst spot for an NBA team: good enough to just get by while wasting the last great years of an all-timer.