2013-14 Finish: 30-52

Season Highlight

The Golden State Warriors bounced back in 13-14 after a disappointing previous season that saw them finish dead last in the entire NLL. The 13-14 Warriors won 11 more games this season, winning 30 in total. Halfway through the season they were a .500 team, but injuries and inconsistency saw them taper in the final quarter of the season. It wasn’t just the wins, however, that made this season such a great step in the right direction. This was due to a few factors. Firstly, the improvements to the game plan. These Warriors brought a fearsome defense every night and were one of the best defensive squads in the NLL. The Warriors GM also made some really positive moves in the off-season of 2013 that helped re-shape the team identity.

Season Lowlight

In a season full of progression, the lowlight would have to have been injuries. Lawson missed 20 games. Chandler missed 20 games. Nene missed 30+. You can’t win enough games to be in the playoffs when you miss 70+ games from your best players. What could they have at full strength? We will never know. Time for them to prove it wasn’t a fluke last year back it up in 14-15.

Best Trade

The Atlanta Hawks send Draymond Green to the Golden State Warriors. The Atlanta Hawks send Derek Fisher, Nazr Mohammed and Derrick Rose to the Utah Jazz. The Golden State Warriors send Luol Deng to the Atlanta Hawks. The Golden State Warriors send Ray McCallum to the Utah Jazz. The Utah Jazz send Michael Beasley, Patrick Beverley and Kent Bazemore to the Atlanta Hawks. The Utah Jazz send Nene Hilario and Alonzo Gee to the Golden State Warriors. The Utah Jazz send a 2nd-Rounder (Den) and 2nd-Rounder (Por) to the Atlanta Hawks. The Atlanta Hawks trade -6 GM points.The Golden State Warriors receive 13 GM points. The Utah Jazz trade -7 GM points.

(22)

 

The Warriors did well here. They traded Luol Deng who was all but certain to leave as a free agent, and Ray McCallum for Nene, Alonzo Gee and Draymond Green. Nene is a starting calibre big, Alonzo Gee is a young, effective 2K player and Green has some real potential and versatility.


Worst Trade

The Golden State Warriors send Andre Iguodala to the LA Lakers. The LA Lakers send JJ Redick, Wilson Chandler and Lavoy Allen to the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors send a 2nd-Rounder (GS) to the LA Lakers.

The Golden State Warriors receive 30 GM points. The LA Lakers trade -30 GM points.

At times it’s a bit premature to judge a trade just one year down the track, but hell, I’m going to do it anyway. Warriors didn’t fare as well with this trade, as they ended up trading Iggy (a 2k beast) and a 2^nd rounder (which at the time was thought to be low 30s) for Chandler and Redick and Allen. Allen is just bench depth while Chandler and Redick are legitimate starters.  They also gave up their first, which ended up helping LA snag Noah Vonleh.

Notable Trades

The Golden State Warriors send Kris Humphries and Gorgui Dieng to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors send Ronnie Price and Ty Lawson to the Golden State Warriors.

 

Warriors traded out Humphries and Dieng for Lawson. Lawson is the floor general for the Warriors and is a great NBA player. However, he gave up one big who is a beast on the boards, and a rookie big who has shower some flashes of dominant big man play.

 

The Dallas Mavericks send Ian Mahinmi, Will Bynum and Tornike Shengelia to the Golden State Warriors. The Golden State Warriors send Jan Vesely, Norris Cole and Draymond Green to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Dallas Mavericks send a 2nd-Rounder (Atl), 2nd-Rounder (Dal) and 2nd-Rounder (Min) to the Golden State Warriors. The Golden State Warriors send a 2nd-Rounder (Tor) to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks receive 10 GM points. The Golden State Warriors trade -10 GM points.

 

This effectively saw Mahinmi for Cole and Green. I like the last two players that I mentioned (which were traded away by GS). Bynum is old and really short and I don’t even know what Shengelia looks like. Think GS got the wrong end. We’ll see. 

Best FA Signing

 

JJ Hickson – JJ Hickson was signed for three years on a reasonable 5.5 million dollar deal. Much more dominant in the NLL than the NBA, Hickson went on to really give the Warriors a presence. He put up awesome numbers of 15.8 points and 12.1 rebounds a game, which are really great numbers. He then used him to get Roy Hibbert in a trade.

Worst FA Signing

 

Joel Anthony – not that I should be commenting on it being a bad thing (as it took dollars off my cap), the Warriors signed Joel Anthony to a deal for about $2 million. However, they cut into their MLE to do so. Anthony did nothing at all, which is what he gets paid to do.

 

 

Star

JJ Hickson – played the most games for the Warriors all season and 16 and 12 every night are some really big numbers. Brought great defensive energy as well, and pulling down defensive rebounds is stopping further possessions for the other team.

Surprise

 

JJ Hickson – for the reasons mentioned above, Hickson gets this nod as well. On just a $5 million deal (which is great for a big man), he really earned every penny and then some.

Goat

 

Really hard to fault anyone as they all battle hard and appear to maximise the talent they each have. I am going to give it to Nene for missing half the season. Nene can play, but what good is a great player who is horrible at being healthy.

 

 

Draft Report Card

The Warriors stockpiled some second rounders and were able to get Clint Capela, Joe Harris, Johnny O’Bryant and Lamar Patterson. Clint Capela has some potential as an athletic defensive big man but might spend some time overseas. O’Bryant is a role playing type big man and the others I have no idea about. Second rounders are a crapshoot anyway, so I will be diplomatic and give the Warriors a C. Best of luck on the picks!

 

Looking To The Future

It looks bright for the Warriors when you think about where they were 2 seasons ago, They moved Redick and Hickson on and snagged shot blocker Roy Hibbert, who was disappointing for Chicago last season. They will have a starting line up of Lawson, Bullock, Chandler, Nene and Hibbert, which is definitely a competitive team. Bullock really showed something in pre-season, too. I don’t think they will be strong enough to make the playoffs but will beat last season’s mark of 30 wins.

 

 

Upcoming Free Agents

 

Greivis Vasquez – he is a restricted free agent and really played well last season, the only Warrior to play all 82. Will be in a Warriors uniform this season.

Dante Cunningham – had some trouble with the law that might harm his chances to make some coin, but I think the Warriors would like him back. He has to find an NBA team.

 

Joel Anthony – keep earnin’ them cheques. Will become a free agent and might get signed for the minimum if a team is feeling really generous.

Shavlik Randolph – unlikely he is back next season.