Can the Golden State dynasty return?

After their downfall in the 2019 NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors took a massive tumble, losing guard Klay Thompson to a torn ACL for the next two seasons and playing without guard Stephen Curry for most of the following year. These injuries set up a mini-rebuild, masterminded by general manager Bob Myers and head coach Steve Kerr.

This retooling began during the 2019-20 season, shortly after Curry broke his hand four games in. Without their superstar, the Warriors fell to a NBA-worst 15-50 during the pandemic-shortened season, which was quite the transition after their 57-25 record in 2018-19. 

That season did have highlights, however, as it allowed forward Eric Paschall and other players to shine in a heightened role for a team without its Splash Brothers: Curry and Thompson. It also led to trading guard D’Angelo Russell to Minnesota for draft picks. The situation got even better after the season’s end — Golden State was able to get the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, when they drafted center James Wiseman out of Memphis.

The trade that sent Russell to Minnesota was the largest factor in the Warriors’ rebuild, as it allowed the team to acquire forward Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 top-three protected pick and a second-round selection. Wiggins proved to be a decent starter and solid contributor to the team.

The other half of this trade was good for Golden State. If Minnesota was able to receive a top-three pick, it would have kept the selection, but if the Timberwolves fell out of that range, the Warriors got it. Minnesota ended with the seventh pick and thus, Golden State grabbed it.

This gave the Warriors two lottery picks and they were able to do a lot with them. They drafted forward foward Jonathan Kuminga with Minnesota’s No. 7 and, with the 14th pick, they picked Arkansas’ Moses Moody. 

Going into the 2021 season, these Warriors look reloaded with the additions of forward Otto Porter Jr, forward Nemanja Bjelica, guard Avery Bradley and forward Andre Iguodala. All four are good veterans who will aid the young players this season.

With all of these moves, this team can make the playoffs. However, the road to being a dynasty again is long — especially in the Western Conference, with the powerhouse Los Angeles Lakers on top. If the Warriors can make the playoffs, the Splash Brothers may be enough to squeak by the first round, but it will take the whole team to reach the peak of the NBA once again.