2017-18 result: 58-24 (second in Western Conference), won NBA Finals over Cleveland Cavaliers (4-0)
2018-19 projected starting lineup: PG Stephen Curry, SG Klay Thompson, SF Kevin Durant, PF Draymond Green, C DeMarcus Cousins
2018-19 projected finish: 69-13 (first in West), win NBA Finals (4-1)
Key player: Andre Iguodala. A former NBA Finals MVP, Iguodala has carved his niche as a valuable sixth man and bench leader in helping the team capture three championships over the last four years. This year, his role is no different. Simply put, despite the bevy of talent in the starting lineup, the Warriors aren’t the Warriors without him.
Season outlook: And you thought the Dubs were already stacked, right? It turns out the Warriors saw an opportunity to improve even more and signed four-time All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year, $5.3 million deal.
The acquisition drew a great deal of controversy, especially on social media from NBA fans who didn’t want to see the league’s top team grow even stronger. Cousins is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in January and hopes to be ready for training camp, though the team has been outspoken about bringing him along slowly.
When he returns, Golden State will add another dimension to its potent offense that relied on long-range shooting. With this added dynamic post presence, the club might challenge its record-breaking 2015-16 win total (73).
Two questions, however, stand in the way of such an accomplishment: (1) Will Cousins be OK with taking a backseat offensively, while Curry, Thompson and Durant still get their touches, and (2) can everybody stay healthy?
We’re in for quite a show.