Contrary to popular opinion, 'Paul George recruiter' Draymond Green thinks Warriors FO was 'incredible' this offseason
Draymond Green thinks the Warriors had an 'incredible' offseason despite missing out on a marquee free agent like Paul George and losing Klay Thompson. Green was among the recruiters for George. However, the Clippers never budged, opting to lose him for free to the Philadelphia 76ers instead.
That didn't stop the Warriors from adding pieces to their roster on the outside to make marginal upgrades to the team that didn't make the playoffs last year. The front office received significant criticism for not making a splash, but Green thinks it was the right call.
"They [Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob] did an incredible job of not panicking," Green said during Monday's Media Day (h/t Warriors beat writer Anthony Slater).
Draymond Green explained how the Warriors are under a microscope, and the outpour of suggesting that came their way could have made things tricky. However, the front office didn't budge, ensuring they stuck to their plans as they saw fit, adding players like Buddy Hield, De'Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson.
The Warriors filled some holes with those additions, which could see them improve on their 46-win total from last year.
Hield compensates for Thompson's departure, while Melton bolsters their guard depth, with Chris Paul leaving the team. Anderson, on the other hand, helps Golden State shore up on the frontcourt as a like-for-like bench option for Draymond Green, running point from the power forward position.
Draymond Green and Warriors still need a reliable second option to complement Steph Curry
Draymond Green's comments on the Warriors' offseason moves are valid to a degree. However, Golden State hasn't made a move that will move the needle drastically just yet.
The Warriors have made new signings, but it's not as significant on paper compared to what the other hopeful contenders in the West boast as of now. Moreover, the team hasn't addressed one of its biggest needs, which is to acquire a reliable secondary scoring option to support Steph Curry.
The Warriors didn't have one last year, either. Just as Jordan Poole was transitioning in that role, the Warriors traded him to the Wizards for Chris Paul's expiring contract. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson heavily struggled to replicate his success in that role.
Jonathan Kuminga had a consistent stretch, but it didn't translate into anything sustainable. Paul George could have been that player for the Dubs, but it seems like they will have to rely on the internal development of Kuminga and hope Andrew Wiggins steps up, too.
The expectations from Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield would be high as well.