Golden State Warriors' Roster Receives Overhaul With NBA Finals MVPs Gone, Trade For 2019 All-Star
The NBA’s best team of the last five years is going to look very different in the 2019-2020 season. The Golden State Warriors have undergone some big changes this summer, losing key players during what’s been a hectic offseason.
Kevin Durant is the most notable departure, leaving the Warriors after three seasons to sign with the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. Andre Iguodala is gone, though not by choice, having been sent to the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade.
Durant and Iguodala were two of Golden State’s top five scorers, making up 40 percent of the Hampton’s Five—perhaps the most unstoppable lineup the league has ever seen.
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are all that remain of the Warriors’ championship core. More than half of the players that suited up for Golden State in the 2019 NBA Finals will be elsewhere next season.
Both DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook have signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Jordan Bell went to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jonas Jerebko is still a free agent. Andrew Bogut is also gone.
Shaun Livingston is still on the roster, but the veteran is expected to be waived at some point. There’s speculation that Livingston could retire.
Jacob Evans is back after playing 30 games for Golden State as a rookie. Alfonzo McKinnie will return, as well.
Kevon Looney will likely be inserted into the starting lineup after signing a new three-year, $15 million contract with Golden State. D’Angelo Russell is certain to be a new Warriors’ starter, having been acquired in a sign-and-trade with the Brooklyn Nets.
Russell joins Curry and Thompson as the third max player on Golden State’s roster, having signed a four-year, $117 million contract at 23 years old. The point guard made his first All-Star team last season, and he’ll take Thompson’s place in the backcourt as the shooting guard recovers from a torn ACL.
Golden State’s most notable addition might not be in the Bay Area for long. There are rumors that the Warriors will look to trade Russell during the season.
Russell will be eligible to be dealt on Dec. 15. Thompson could potentially return around the All-Star break. Russell isn’t exactly a perfect fit on Golden State’s roster when the Splash Brothers are both playing.
Russell is set to make more than $27 million next season.
Alec Burks will be the second-highest paid addition to the Warriors’ roster. He signed a one-year minimum salary deal with Golden State after he initially committed to joining the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Glenn Robinson III and Willie Cauley-Stein signed with the Warriors for fewer than $2 million each. Golden State acquired Omari Spellman in a trade Monday, sending the Atlanta Hawks Damian Jones and a 2026 second-round draft pick in exchange for the 21-year-old.
Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall join the Warriors as rookies after being taken in the 2019 NBA Draft.
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