By Alex Valle — Content Editor
After being defeated in six games to the Toronto Raptors the Golden State Warriors are at a turning point for their franchise.
With players getting injured, facing free agency and others possibly looking to retirement people wonder if this is the end of the Warriors dynasty.
Depending on how you define a sports dynasty, I think that Golden State will continue to be the powerhouse of the NBA.
During the finals Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both suffered injuries that will most likely sideline them until the end of next season. Coincidentally, both of these players are unrestricted free agents, while Kevin Durant has the option to pick up a $30.75 million player option.
This situation extends further than just these two players.
The Warriors have a total of eight players that are free agents this summer, which means that only Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Damian Jones, Jacob Evans and Alfonso McKinnie are contracted for next year.
Once the finals ended the Golden State front office made it clear that they are still prepared to offer Durant and Thompson each a five year max contract. These two signings would put the Warriors well over the salary cap of $109 million for the 2019 season meaning they would have to pay luxury taxes.
However, due to all the success Golden State has had in recent years and the opening of their new arena in downtown San Francisco they will have no problem being able to pay this luxury tax.
Livingston and Iguodala have been a great combination of veteran presence and consistent contribution to the team as two way players. At 33 and 35 years old there is a possibility that they might have played their last NBA game.
Expecting that Durant and Thompson will re-sign, Golden State will look to their 28th pick in the draft and the signing of some verteran free agents to pick up the load of the injured players.
The Warriors General Manager, Bob Meyers, has made some great picks in the late first round. In the last three years Golden State has drafted Jacob Evans, Damien Jones and Kevon Looney in the late first round.
All three of these players have been effective coming off the bench or starting in the regular season and playoffs. There should be no problem finding a rotation player with the 28th pick.
In free agency there will be many options out there, but the Warriors best option might be to re-sign Demarcus Cousins. Coming off of a torn Achilles, he was able to show flashes of his talent in the playoffs.
Cousins used the 2018 season to prove to teams that he is worth a max contract since there was a lack of interest from other NBA teams to sign the big man last year. Not being fully healthy this year he could decide to sign another short term contract with the Warriors.
With Durant and Thompson out next season I do not see the Warriors competing for a championship. If the front office is able to sign the right players to fill some rolls, they will continue to be competitors when Durant and Thompson return.
Follow Alex on Twitter @AlexValleSpear
