It’s been an odd 12 months for the Golden State Warriors. Out of the gate, they seemed to be probably the most harmful crew within the league. They began the season 18-2, a file to which they arrived thanks partly to 2 separate seven-game profitable streaks. Steph Curry was the MVP favourite; the crew, a relative lock for title rivalry.
Then, everybody received harm. The crew slipped a bit. They’ve slipped from #1 with a bullet to 3rd within the West. It hasn’t been a steep drop, however given the best way all of it started, it’s removed from what one may take into account excellent. We aren’t 100-percent positive what to make of this crew anymore, particularly because the second Klay Thompson started to spherical into type and Draymond Inexperienced returned from damage, Steph Curry went down with an damage of his personal. (Marcus Sensible was making a basketball play; don’t get it twisted.)
Regardless of its big range of misfortunes, there have been loads of nice, dependable surprises for the Warriors. Jordan Poole is electrical. Gary Payton II simply dunks on a regular basis. And Otto Porter Jr., now on his fourth crew in as many seasons, has been a valued utility ahead off the bench: he’s averaging eight factors and 5 rebounds whereas capturing 37 p.c from three in 21.6 minutes per contest. He’ll possible be coveted league-wide this offseason, whether or not it’s to stick with Golden State or to signal elsewhere.
Say the Warriors had been unable to succeed in a deal for an extension with Porter Jr. this offseason, for no matter purpose, or say the vet merely plans to search for a change of surroundings — MassLive’s Brian Robb sees the Celtics as a possible vacation spot. They could be prepared to supply the swingman a deal for the mid-level exception.
“Porter Jr. shocked individuals in NBA circles so much throughout free company final offseason when he turned down larger contracts to take a veteran’s minimal take care of the Warriors,” Robb wrote. “He’s been a worthwhile bench participant for them this season as a shooter/defender to your level off the bench and he would fill that function wherever he decides to go subsequent season, together with Boston… The query is whether or not Porter Jr. would favor to remain in Golden State on an affordable deal throughout their title window or if one other contender like Boston might swoop in and supply him more cash.”
If the Warriors find yourself itching to maintain OPJ on the roster subsequent season, they’d possible goal to take action on a mid-level deal, if not one other minimal contract. However ought to Porter Jr. have an itch of his personal, maybe for a bit greater than the league minimal he took this season to play with one of many title favorites, the Celtics might be a suitor. Boston might definitely supply him the mid-level exception, and would possible be concerned with doing so. You may by no means have an excessive amount of depth on the wings, and Porter Jr.’s reliability from deep might do wonders for the C’s at any time when Jayson Tatum and/or Jaylen Brown want a breather.
Positive, the Warriors entered this season with excessive hopes, and maybe a more healthy group returning subsequent season might see them return to the championship dialog for good — or not less than for a short time. However given their resurgence over the again half of this season, possibly Boston is the following massive vacation spot for veterans in search of that ever-elusive title. It’s simply hypothesis for now, however possibly Porter Jr. might be the primary domino to fall.
