How Dunleavy impressed Kerr in Warriors’ ‘difficult’ offseason originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
LAS VEGAS — One day his statue will be visited by crowds of fans outside Chase Center. When Klay Thompson’s playing career comes to an end his shirt will hang from the rafters among the franchise’s all-time greatest. No warrior will wear the number 11 again.
The Warriors also had to pivot quickly. They couldn’t afford to waste time in such an important off-season for a franchise that saw the lights go out for one of the best dynasties in any sport.
Knowing Thompson’s mindset to leave the only NBA home he’d ever known to join the Dallas Mavericks in free agency on a three-year deal worth $50 million, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy quickly had to change his focus on finding creative ways to improve a roster that failed to make the NBA playoffs last season.
He did too once. Steve Kerr’s sole focus for now is leading the U.S. men’s basketball team to a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The Warriors coach has also kept tabs on every decision Dunleavy has made, and as much as Kerr wants Thompson to remain a Warrior, he couldn’t be happier with the strings Dunleavy has been able to pull thus far.
“I think Mike Dunleavy did an incredible job,” Kerr said Sunday at UNLV after Team USA’s second day of training camp.
Thompson wasn’t the only future Hall of Famer the Warriors lost last week. Chris Paul’s one-year experience in Golden State colors fell far short of expectations. To let Thompson take his talents to Dallas, Dunleavy had to do something that had never been done before in NBA history.
He took the first change of six teams in the league. Thompson was technically acquired by the Mavs via a sign-and-trade, where the Warriors added Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson. The other teams involved outside of the Warriors and Mavs were the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets.
Hield comes from Philadelphia, where he joined the 76ers from the Indiana Pacers at last season’s trade deadline. Anderson spent the last two seasons in Minnesota after playing the previous four years for the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Warriors also signed Versatile veteran guard De’Anthony Melton to a $12.9 million contract through the mid-level exception for non-taxpayers.
Dunleavy even maneuvered smaller moves ahead of the bigger names in trading for Lindy Waters III from the Oklahoma City Thunder, reacquiring the 52nd overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to land Quinten Post from Boston College and sign back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year contracts. , Reece Beekman, with a two-way contract.
“To recover from the loss of Chris and then Klay, and then use the cap to his advantage — he and his group did a great job,” Kerr said. “We signed three very good players, we manage our finances very well and Mike is wonderful at his job in every aspect.
“He is also a great partner in these difficult times. Great guy to lean on.
There’s no replacing Thompson, especially from an emotional standpoint. Kerr knows this. Dunleavy knows this. Just like Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
Few have ever possessed the basketball IQ of Paul, who will enter his 20th NBA season at age 39 when he suits up for the San Antonio Spurs next season.
There’s also the fact that the Warriors address their many needs while still looking for a second star to pair alongside Curry. They added 3-point shooting from Hield. Melton also brings shooting and secondary scoring, as well as athleticism and point-of-attack defense. Anderson gives them length, defense and a lot of experience.
In a league where continuity is king, turnarounds leave the Warriors closer to their goal than where they just finished, near the end of a loaded Western Conference, ready to take the gloves off and fight every day.
