[Mick]

Warriors didn't get Markkanen. They offered Moody and basically every pick they could plus pick swaps for the next four years. Utah countered with Podziemski and the picks. Deal didn't get done.

The only other two big names available are Zach Lavine (owed $138 million over three years, played 25 games last season) and Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans ($36 mms. on an expiring contract). Warriors have no interest in either. They have 14 players under contract and are believed to be satisfied with the existing lineup.

It's hard to know how to feel about this development without knowing the true ask.  I like podz but if the Jazz would have accepted a package like Podz, Moody, and 2 FRPs we should have done it. If they wanted Podz AND the full 3 FRPs/4 swaps, then the price was just too high.

The bullish case for this season is as follows:
Upgraded rotation, replacing Klay (who was a net negative last year) and Saric with Melton, Hield, Anderson

Improved play from the young guys. Podz and Kuminga may take a leap, and TJD should improve as well.

Draymond is available and not suspended.

The vets have indicated they expect much improved play from Wiggins this year. Whether this is just hyping him up to will it into existence or the effects of a better offseason and improved personal issues remains to be seen. 

If this comes to pass, the Warriors could be a deadline move or two away from being a legit contender in a stacked west. 

The bear case:
Steph is older/worse. Olympics haven't been reassuring in this regard. If steph is struggling and Podz/Kuminga/wiggins don't step up this team could really struggle in the half court offensively.

Wiggins is who he is and it is foolish to hope otherwise

Kuminga remains a flashy player but not a reliable contributor to winning basketball.

This team is struggling to fight for a play in spot, and if steph misses any real time may even shift gears to Zag for Flag.

I'm hopeful that Steph's struggles are related to his highly refined game with tighter parameters for shooting than most players. The NBA basketball has tighter size restrictions than the Olympics basketball. If he's playing with a slightly larger, heavier ball and he's dealing with a nine hour time difference, then it's a little bit understandable. If not, if Father Time has caught up with Steph, well then that's a system-wide problem that no Markkanen can fix.

I thought Tom Tolbert had an interesting perspective on Wiggins, Kuminga, Podziemski, Green and Steph. He said that instinctive basketball players will always have an edge over non-instinctive players. He felt that Curry, Draymond and Podz are all instinctive ballplayers, that they will always be a half-step or more ahead of typical NBA players because of their instincts. He stated that neither Wiggins nor Kuminga are instinctive ballplayers, that their time on court will always be dominated by the need to process where to go and what to do. In short, they can't really anticipate. They can play well, and they have athletic gifts, but the have to be coached into situations where they don't need to anticipate.

Agree with everything you stated. I think that Klay actually went to the one team in the NBA in which he could successfully start, given the surplus of stars who know how to pass. I still think the odds are that Klay breaks down this year and continues to regress badly. After this season, I don't have any confidence that you'll even see vestiges of the old Klay. He's an 0-for-10-when-it-counts player. Wish it were different, I really do.

[Mick]

Warriors didn't get Markkanen. They offered Moody and basically every pick they could plus pick swaps for the next four years. Utah countered with Podziemski and the picks. Deal didn't get done.

The only other two big names available are Zach Lavine (owed $138 million over three years, played 25 games last season) and Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans ($36 mms. on an expiring contract). Warriors have no interest in either. They have 14 players under contract and are believed to be satisfied with the existing lineup.

It's hard to know how to feel about this development without knowing the true ask.  I like podz but if the Jazz would have accepted a package like Podz, Moody, and 2 FRPs we should have done it. If they wanted Podz AND the full 3 FRPs/4 swaps, then the price was just too high.

The bullish case for this season is as follows:
Upgraded rotation, replacing Klay (who was a net negative last year) and Saric with Melton, Hield, Anderson

Improved play from the young guys. Podz and Kuminga may take a leap, and TJD should improve as well.

Draymond is available and not suspended.

The vets have indicated they expect much improved play from Wiggins this year. Whether this is just hyping him up to will it into existence or the effects of a better offseason and improved personal issues remains to be seen. 

If this comes to pass, the Warriors could be a deadline move or two away from being a legit contender in a stacked west. 

The bear case:
Steph is older/worse. Olympics haven't been reassuring in this regard. If steph is struggling and Podz/Kuminga/wiggins don't step up this team could really struggle in the half court offensively.

Wiggins is who he is and it is foolish to hope otherwise

Kuminga remains a flashy player but not a reliable contributor to winning basketball.

This team is struggling to fight for a play in spot, and if steph misses any real time may even shift gears to Zag for Flag.

I'm hopeful that Steph's struggles are related to his highly refined game with tighter parameters for shooting than most players. The NBA basketball has tighter size restrictions than the Olympics basketball. If he's playing with a slightly larger, heavier ball and he's dealing with a nine hour time difference, then it's a little bit understandable. If not, if Father Time has caught up with Steph, well then that's a system-wide problem that no Markkanen can fix.

I thought Tom Tolbert had an interesting perspective on Wiggins, Kuminga, Podziemski, Green and Steph. He said that instinctive basketball players will always have an edge over non-instinctive players. He felt that Curry, Draymond and Podz are all instinctive ballplayers, that they will always be a half-step or more ahead of typical NBA players because of their instincts. He stated that neither Wiggins nor Kuminga are instinctive ballplayers, that their time on court will always be dominated by the need to process where to go and what to do. In short, they can't really anticipate. They can play well, and they have athletic gifts, but the have to be coached into situations where they don't need to anticipate.

Agree with everything you stated. I think that Klay actually went to the one team in the NBA in which he could successfully start, given the surplus of stars who know how to pass. I still think the odds are that Klay breaks down this year and continues to regress badly. After this season, I don't have any confidence that you'll even see vestiges of the old Klay. He's an 0-for-10-when-it-counts player. Wish it were different, I really do.