Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy suggested some of the Warriors' young stars could emerge in the absence of a clear second option behind Stephen Curry.
Golden State Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. spoke to the media about the current roster the franchise has. He noted that with the departure of Klay Thompson, there is no clear second option, and players like Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, and Andrew Wiggins could be the ones to step up and take that role.
“The positive of that is that is a little bit unknown and so going out every night if you’re an opponent you say ‘Who do you have to stop besides Steph Curry?’ The good news is, maybe they don't know either."
"I think for us, whether it's Wiggs, JK, or Brandin who can score the ball, I think we have a lot of ways to do it. Some nights it's going to be different guys. But as I alluded to earlier, I think a little bit with the uncertainty is exciting, in the sense of 'We got some things to find out'.”
There seems to be a clear vacuum in the number two spot for the Warriors. While Klay Thompson had an underwhelming stint with the Warriors last year, he was clearly the second option for the team behind Stephen Curry. And with his departure, the Warriors have not replaced him with a second star.
Dunleavy also explained why the franchise wasn't able to pull the trigger for a second star like Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, noting that he wasn't willing to overpay to land a second star. There is no doubt Dunleavy and the rest of the franchise front office will be hoping an All-Star will be available for cheap during the course of the season.
Can Stephen Curry Carry The Warriors Alone?
There is no denying the greatness of Stephen Curry. He has been a superstar in the NBA for well over a decade and has shown no signs of slowing down. But he cannot be asked to carry the team on his shoulders without any help. While players like Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins play their roles very well, they haven't been All-Star caliber players since their championship win in 2022.
Curry showed just how brilliant he could be when he had the right players around him during the Olympics. Playing alongside stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry put on a scintillating performance that helped Team USA secure the gold in Paris.
Curry doesn't have it in him to carry a team by himself. And that isn't a knock on him. No player in the NBA can single-handedly carry an entire team to a championship.
The last time a player was able to win an NBA championship without an All-Star teammate was Kawhi Leonard with the Raptors in 2019. However, he had teammates who would go on to become All-Stars in the years to come, and they all played at an All-Star level during the playoffs.
Fans of the Warriors will be hoping that the franchise pulls a move off during the season to provide Curry some help and allow the team to compete for an NBA championship next season.
