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NBA

Golden State Warriors already plotting for 2022/23 season success

The current champions are deep into the planning stages for the 2022-23 NBA season with Steve Kerr’s fancied to retain their crown.

Stephen Curry celebrates 2022 title alongside fans TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Kyle TeradaUSA TODAY Sports

Despite the curtain coming down on the 2021/22 season in mid-June, the NBA never stops. The high demands of elite level of basketball force teams to improve year-on-year with no-one wanting to fall behind. This philosophy even applies to the champions as Golden State Warriors begin to put the pieces together to ensure that the title stays in California.

The departures of 29-year-old Gary Payton II, who is off to Portland, Otto Porter Jr, who packed his bags for Toronto, Nemanja Bjelica, aged 34, who will return to Fenerbahçe the move of Juan Toscano-Anderson to the Lakers, forces Warriors GM Bob Myers to spring into action and facilitate the transfers that will forge a winning season for Warriors.

As we have seen over previous seasons, Warriors owner Joe Lacob, owner is not afraid to pay the luxury tax for exceeding the salary limit and new faces in the franchise for next season will include 25-year-old Donte DiVincenzo (formerly with Sacramento), veteran JaMychal Green (32), and 23-year-old Mac McClung is set to be given time after his excellent Summer League showing.

Gary Payton II with the Warriors
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Gary Payton II with the WarriorsAlika JennerAFP

The main philosophy promoted by Steve Kerr in 2015, and that led the Warriors to three titles in four years (2015, 2017 and 2018 ) with a repeat this year is clear: all players, whatever role they have, are important.

Changes

In economic terms, last season was the fourth in the last five years in which the Warriors were the team that spends the most money on salary. So much so that they have two players among the top 10 earners in the league: Stephen Curry in first place, who will earn 48 million and Klay Thompson in 10th position with 40 million. Andrew Wiggins, key in the past Finals is placed at 25th position in the salary rankings and will earn 33.6 million next year.

As for the contracts of the three newcomers, DiVincenzo signed for two seasons on $9.3 million, JaMychal Green will sign with the team when he agrees to leave Oklahoma and Mac McClung signed a non-guaranteed contract that will allow him to train at the training camp with the Californian franchise.

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry
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Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry Adam GlanzmanAFP

The Warriors’ summer activity to date can be summed up with a mixture of experience and youth. While Green has appeared in six of the last seven editions of the Western Conference Playoffs (with Clippers, Grizzlies and Nuggets, DiVincenzo played a key role in the path of the Milwaukee Bucks to the title in 2021.

The Warriors have plenty of emerging talent in-house too it would seem after a trio of youngsters impressed at the recent Summer League with Jonathan Kuminga (draft choice no. 7 in 2021), James Wiseman (No. 2 in 2020) and Moses Moody (No. 14 of the 2021 Draft) all looking to make the step-up to the first team.

Reinvention is the key to success at Golden State....different players but the philosophy remains the same. The current champions are looking to repeat their 2022 success with a few nips and tucks as the 2022/23 season looms on the horizon.