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Golden State Warriors: Good, Bad And Ugly From The 2016 Offseason

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:02 p.m. ET

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Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; A large welcome Kevin Durant banner is displayed on the outside of Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

After an eventful summer, we explore the good, bad and ugly for the Golden State Warriors from the 2016 NBA Offseason

The Golden State Warriors may not have won an NBA title this year, but they sure did win the award for best offseason – running away. After being on the wrong end of history in this year’s NBA Finals, the Warriors are in position to have a better year in 2016-17 than their record-breaking season of 73-9.

Some may not agree with how the franchise is constructing their team, but the best team in California just wants to win. There’s no question about that.

Acquiring Kevin Durant in free agency was easily the steal of the summer, and even that is a bit of an understatement.

Aside from the starting unit, the Golden State Warriors look completely different from the team that we’ve come to know over the past few years. With that being said, lets take a look at their good, bad and ugly from the 2016 offseason.

Apr 11, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) reacts to being hit in the face during the second half against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Dallas won 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Offseason Recap

The Golden State Warriors will be a totally different ball club in 2016-17. The team was very active  this summer in the NBA Draft, free agency and, last but not least, in the trade market. Here is a quick recap of how the offseason went for the Warriors.

The biggest loss for the Warriors this summer was trading away their starting center Andrew Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks. Bogut was the team’s primary rim protector and his presence was missed in the NBA Finals when he missed the final two games due to a knee injury.

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To make up for Bogut’s loss, the Warriors signed Zaza Pachulia and David West. Pachulia should fill the starting center position and West will most likely come off the bench. Pachulia is a good rebounder who averaged 9.4 boards a game last season with the Mavericks.

West, on the other hand, isn’t getting any younger these days and his presence wasn’t felt much with the San Antonio  Spurs last year. The power forward averaged 7.1 points and 4 rebounds per game last season.

As far as bringing back players, re-signing Ian Clark was a good move. With Leandro Barbosa returning to the Phoenix Suns, Clark should be ready to become the primary backup shooting guard to Klay Thompson.

Now, for the good.

The Good: Signing Kevin Durant

After accomplishing 73 wins this year and a repeat trip to the NBA Finals, how could they possibly get any better? The answer to that question is Kevin Durant. If I would have told you at the All Star break that the Golden State Warriors would be able to land Kevin Durant in the summer you’d think I was crazy.

Well that thought is now a reality. By the way, a motivated Stephen Curry is still there as well.

Many disagreed with the move. How could a superstar join a team that is already stacked with three all-stars, not to mention he joined a team that just defeated him in the Western Conference Finals after blowing a 3-1 lead.

The Warriors offered Durant the best chance to win a championship. Selfish doesn’t define this team and that is the kind of environment that Durant wanted to play in.

His chemistry with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green improved simply by capturing his second Olympic Gold medal this summer. Will that translate to the NBA season? Only time will tell.

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts while speaking to media following the 93-89 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Bad: The Scrutiny

Have the Golden State Warriors transitioned from the heroes of the NBA to villains? I don’t think the scrutiny comes close to when the LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in Miami in 2010 but many are not satisfied with their acquisition of Kevin Durant.

The team will be under a microscope everywhere they go and every loss will be over-analyzed. Durant specifically will be tested this season. When he made the announcement to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith called it “the weakest move I’ve ever seen from a superstar.”

Jordan Brand created a commercial recently with Durant’s old teammate Russell Westbrook. In the ad, Westbrook is driving towards the goal on a court which resembles a runway. As he is floating in the air, the narrator speaks “Some run, some make runways.” Maybe a shot at Durant?

Durant and the Warriors’ first game in Oklahoma City should be one of the top games of the year. Will they be able to tune the scrutiny out or will they crumble under the pressure to improve upon a 73 win season? Only time will tell.

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) reacts after a basket and foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Ugly: Chemistry

There isn’t much negative you could say about the Golden State Warriors’ offseason other than the fact that they lost almost half of their team in order to sign Kevin Durant. There will be an adjustment period initially before the franchise looks to dominate the rest of the league.

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The team lost fan favorite Marreese Speights to the Los Angeles Clippers, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks, Festus Ezeli to the Portland Trail Blazers, Leandro Barbosa to the Phoenix Suns and Brandon Rush to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

These are all Western Conference teams so the Warriors will see their former teammates quite often this year.

Sacrifices will have to be made in order for the Warriors win a championship. Klay Thompson doesn’t agree with that philosophy as the shooting guard spoke about that very issue this summer.

If every key player on the team has that mindset, the Golden State Warriors aren’t going anywhere near the NBA Finals for a third consecutive time.

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