Warriors Bracing For Revenge Tour

You thought the Warriors were finally a thing of the past?

Well, think again.

Prior to this season, the two common themes for the back half of the 2010s were LeBron and the
Warriors. And for good reason.

The two parties only met in the NBA Finals four years in a row with the Warriors coming away victorious
three times. However, their historic run to a screeching halt last June when Kawhi Leonard and the
Raptors took them down in six games.

Before I continue, hear me out. The Raptors absolutely deserve the right to be champions and it wasn’t
just Kawhi either. Fred VanVleet had a case for Finals MVP, Kyle Lowry was gritty, and how about the
coaching display Nick Nurse put on?

With that being said, let’s be real here.

If Kevin Durant was healthy and good to go from game one, the Warriors would be aiming for a four-
peat right now. Not only that, what if Klay Thompson doesn’t go down during a crucial game six?

But you know what they say, we can put a what if on anything.

While the Warriors initial run won’t be duplicated, brace for them to win another championship or two
over the next few years. When Durant took his talents to Brooklyn, the lazy assumption was that the
Warriors are done. Then, Bob Myers and company ended up with all-star guard D’Angelo Russell.

At the time, the fit didn’t make sense because Russell and Steph Curry wouldn’t be able to maximize
their strengths sharing the same floor. The Warriors front office was ridiculed for the move, but all along
they were playing the long game.

Russell was an asset to reel in Andrew Wiggins and the Timberwolves first round pick next year. Yes, I’m
aware of Wiggins’ contract, but they were essentially paying Russell the same dollar amount. So, if
you’re the Warriors it makes sense to pay the guy that fits way better.

The 6-foot-8 Wiggins gives Golden State they were desperately lacking. He provides length, athleticism,
and versatility on the defensive side of the ball. Not to mention, Wiggins is a guy that averages 20 points
per game in his young career and that’s without much floor spacing. Imagine the driving lanes he’ll have
next year with Curry and Thompson on the perimeter.

Wiggins isn’t Durant, but he’s much better than Harrison Barnes who seems to be the popular
comparison. Wiggins is somewhere in the middle of those two. Also, let’s not forget that he’s only 24-
years-old.

This move tells me one major thing.

Steve Kerr and Myers are betting on their culture. When you have a leader like Curry, it just makes life
easier. It’s a certain magnetism he brings to a locker room. Despite him being out for majority of the
season, you still see him on the bench cheering on his guys. That kind of behavior infectious which
creates a true family atmosphere and breeds confidence into others.

It’s a small sample size, but Wiggins is already showing signs of improved effort. Most notably on the
defensive end. In the Warriors last contest against the Suns, Wiggins swatted away four shots, which is a
career-high.

Magnetism.

Oh yeah, Curry and Thompson’s injuries may have been a blessing in disguise because it could net them
the number one overall pick this summer.

James Wiseman?

I hope NBA fans enjoyed this vacation of no Warriors talk because they’ll be on a revenge tour next year.

Stay tuned.