• After a couple of very tough seasons for the Warriors, they regained their throne at the top of the NBA after beating the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. They did so by going against the grain as they did not cash in on their youthful talent in exchange for win-now players. Instead, the Warriors were able to win the championship on the back of their veteran core while still maintaining a young core that would have many rebuilding teams jealous. Between Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman, it’s safe to say that there is an embarrassment of riches happening in the bay.

    How’d It Go?

    It started out absolutely perfectly, as the Warriors were able to win 18 of their first 20 contests and were tied for first in the Western Conference with the Phoenix Suns as late as January 10 with a record of 30-9. Obviously, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were the engine that made Golden State hum but Jordan Poole’s ability to supplement the production that the team was without in Klay Thompson played a major role in their early season success. Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and Otto Porter Jr. were also big reasons why the Warriors were so successful early on.

    However, the season wasn’t all sunshine in Golden State. Thompson’s eventual return from two calendar years of being on the IR threw the rotation in a funk. Regardless of the caliber of star that is returning from injury, there are always growing pains and that was what happened in San Francisco. Not only was Klay understandably rusty after such a lengthy layoff, but the Warriors rotation got squeezed with Poole forced to play a more minimal role off the bench. It was an adjustment period no doubt, and it even led to Memphis surpassing them in the standings when the season was over.

    With the third seed in the Western Conference heading into the postseason, the Warriors were able to take down the Nikola Jokić-led Nuggets with relative ease in the first round. They then had one of their more difficult matchups against a young and gritty Memphis team that posed a problem on the interior for the smaller Warriors. Their athleticism and size were a problem, but not one that the battle-tested Warriors weren’t able to solve.

    They caught a bit of a break heading into the Western Conference Finals with the Suns blowing a Game 7 opportunity vs. the Mavs in the other side of the bracket. The Suns/Warriors series was something many anticipated after a few hotly-contested regular season matchups between the squads. Against the Mavs, the Warriors exposed Dallas’ lack of rim protection as they were able to win in Game 5. After beating Luka Dončić and the Mavs, the Warriors’ next challenge was perhaps their greatest. They had to attempt to defeat the Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown-led Celtics squad that featured a hell of a rim protector in Robert Williams III. While the Celtics did present similar challenges to what the Warriors saw in Memphis, their lack of depth, turnover issues and perhaps inexperience resulted in Steph Curry winning his first Finals MVP as the Warriors earned their fourth title in eight seasons. Regardless of what the haters might say, that’s as much of a dynasty as we have seen since the Tim Duncan Spurs.

    Coaching

    There had been some negative Steve Kerr chatter during the two down seasons that the Warriors had. It’s safe to say that this chatter is gone after Kerr won his fourth title as head coach in just his eighth season. He now has made the NBA Finals in six of his eight seasons and has never lost a non-NBA Finals series in his career. While he has been blessed with an incredible roster throughout his tenure in the league, Kerr’s accomplishments already put him in an elite tier of coaching.

    Kerr pushed all the right buttons in the NBA Finals, from making defensive adjustments after Game 1’s brutal loss to benching Draymond Green in the fourth quarter of Game 4 in favor of Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole.

    Kerr may be lucky in having the talent at his disposal that he has with the Warriors. But talent alone does not lead to a championship. The buy-in that he has from his players and the front office is unquestioned at this point and he has one of the most secure coaching jobs in sports moving forward. He is now in the same tier as Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra (if he wasn’t already).

    The Players

    Stephen Curry
    PG, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 60 60 32.8 8.9 19.8 45.0 4.3 4.7 91.8 4.9 12.1 40.5 27.0 4.4 4.9 0.8 0.4 3.0
    22-23 GS 56 56 34.7 10.0 20.2 49.3 4.6 5.0 91.5 4.9 11.4 42.7 29.4 6.1 6.3 0.9 0.4 3.2
    21-22 GS 64 64 34.5 8.4 19.1 43.7 4.3 4.7 92.3 4.5 11.7 38.0 25.5 5.2 6.3 1.3 0.4 3.2

    ADP: 7/4 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 11/12 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 7/6 (8/9-cat)

    Curry had a down season shooting the ball this past regular season and was still one of the best 3-point shooters in the game. His shooting ability is unmatched and while his fantasy game took a slight hit with the Warriors getting back to full strength, the team fared much better by not having to ask Curry to put up 40 points to have a chance to win on a nightly basis like he had to do in 2020-21.

    Curry is an unquestioned first-round pick across fantasy formats with the biggest hangup being the injury concerns. He suffered a foot sprain towards the end of the regular season that caused him to miss the last 12 games of the year. As long as Curry can stay relatively healthy and play around 65 games, he will once again be a surefire locked and loaded first-round draft pick across redraft fantasy formats.

    Jordan Poole
    PG, Washington Wizards
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 WAS 66 54 29.1 6.0 14.6 41.1 2.5 2.8 86.2 2.2 6.9 32.4 16.7 2.5 3.9 1.1 0.4 2.3
    22-23 GS 82 42 30.0 6.7 15.6 43.0 4.4 5.1 87.0 2.6 7.8 33.6 20.4 2.7 4.5 0.8 0.3 3.1
    21-22 GS 75 50 30.1 6.2 13.9 44.8 3.2 3.5 92.4 2.8 7.6 36.3 18.4 3.4 4.0 0.8 0.3 2.4

    ADP: 133/116 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 32/42 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 55/64 (8/9-cat)

    At one point during the season, Jordan Poole had a huge game and shouted out “Money Time!” There is no doubt that the young guard out of Michigan earned himself quite the payday this past campaign, as he exploded onto the scene and could have been in the running for Sixth Man of the Year if he wasn’t starting in place of Klay Thompson for the first half of the year.

    It took Poole longer than most youngsters to find his footing in the NBA, as he spent a good portion of his first two seasons in the G League. It wasn’t until after the All-Star break in 2021 before Poole became a consistent member of the Warriors rotation. He took the second half surge we saw in 2020-21 and carried it over in stride, becoming an integral part of the team’s championship run. He obliterated all of his previous career-highs in 30 mpg and is one of the more intriguing young guards around the league moving forward. While his shot has garnered him attention as a splash brother addition, his explosive first step and ability to get around almost all NBA defenders is a thing to behold. There are questions on the defensive end that he will have to answer if he ever wants to be the go-to guy on a championship level team, but his size and athleticism do suggest that he could become at least an average defender.

    There was value to be had in last year’s drafts, but it’s quite possible that he gets overdrafted next season based on this breakout performance. Also, a season with Klay Thompson healthy to begin the year could interfere with Poole’s role and therefore, his fantasy value.

    Draymond Green
    PF, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 41 38 26.7 3.4 6.9 49.5 1.1 1.5 75.4 1.0 2.4 41.4 9.0 7.1 6.1 0.8 0.9 2.5
    22-23 GS 73 73 31.5 3.4 6.5 52.7 1.1 1.5 71.3 0.5 1.8 30.5 8.5 7.2 6.8 1.0 0.8 2.8
    21-22 GS 45 43 29.0 3.0 5.7 52.2 1.3 2.0 65.2 0.3 1.2 28.3 7.5 7.4 7.0 1.4 1.1 3.0

    ADP: 59/62 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 138/167 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 56/84 (8/9-cat)

    The basketball chemistry that Draymond has with Steph is something to behold as it seems like they have a mind-meld when together. While Draymond was able to deliver at his ADP in 8-cat leagues in per-game production, he lagged behind in 9-cat formats due to the 3.0 turnovers per game he committed. The other knock on Draymond’s fantasy season has to be the back injury that forced him out for 31 straight games (with the exception of seven seconds during Klay Thompson’s long-awaited return). Green has seen his availability trend in the wrong direction over the last three seasons, but his impact in the playoffs is all that matters for the Warriors at the end of the day.

    The unusual stat set that Draymond offers will still be of interest to fantasy managers playing in shallow formats, but the way he plays the game may suggest that he won’t age as well as his colleagues, Steph and Klay. He plays much bigger than his height suggests and while his defensive instincts are among the best who ever laced them up, the end may not be too far off and the lack of a shot limits his ability to impact the game on the offensive end. Draymond will most definitely have some value as a top-100 fantasy player next season, but the name recognition he has could mean that he won’t have top-flight fantasy value again in his career.

    Klay Thompson
    SG, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 63 53 29.6 6.1 14.4 42.2 1.7 1.9 91.5 3.3 8.7 38.3 17.2 3.4 2.2 0.6 0.5 1.5
    22-23 GS 69 69 33.0 7.9 18.1 43.6 1.7 1.9 87.9 4.4 10.6 41.2 21.9 4.1 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.8
    21-22 GS 31 31 29.4 7.4 17.5 42.3 1.4 1.5 91.7 3.5 9.1 37.9 19.7 3.9 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.3

    ADP: 99/104 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 243/237 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 77/60 (8/9-cat)

    It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Thompson had his worst regular season of his career after coming off of two season-ending injuries that cost him to miss over two calendar years. He had, by far, the worst shooting season of his career and the worst 3-point shooting season of his career. However, his .385 3-point percentage is still a mark that many NBA players strive to get to throughout their entire careers. The inconsistency was especially difficult to deal with in head-to-head formats, especially considering all of the missed games that piled up even after he returned from injury.

    Thompson may have provided a hint of per-game value relative to his ADP, his total value was far lower than that mark and it gives us yet another example of why it is not smart to draft injured players. Next season will be very interesting for Klay given Jordan Poole’s breakout campaign as it remains to be seen if both Poole and Klay can deliver top-100 per-game value together alongside Curry, Green and Wiggins. Out of the duo, though, Klay is a safer bet given his track record and the amount the team has invested in him.

    Andrew Wiggins
    SF, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 57 45 26.9 4.8 10.6 45.5 1.8 2.5 73.6 1.2 3.3 35.1 12.6 4.2 1.7 0.6 0.5 1.2
    22-23 GS 37 37 32.2 6.8 14.3 47.3 1.2 1.9 61.1 2.4 6.1 39.6 17.1 5.0 2.3 1.2 0.8 1.3
    21-22 GS 73 73 31.9 6.5 14.0 46.6 2.0 3.2 63.4 2.2 5.5 39.3 17.2 4.4 2.2 1.0 0.7 1.5

    ADP: 77/88 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 84/84 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 119/123 (8/9-cat)

    Wiggins definitely silenced his haters this past season after earning his first All-Star appearance, and as a starter nonetheless. Even after earning the starting spot, there were still those who didn’t believe that Wiggins had turned a corner in his career. Hopefully, he has now silenced all those who doubted him after his tremendous two-way play in the postseason was one of the biggest reasons why the Warriors sit atop the league.

    While Wiggins was absolutely fantastic for the Warriors from a reality perspective, his fantasy game faltered in large part due to his efficiency at the free throw line. If we throw out the career-worst .634 from the line, Wiggins actually jumps into the top-80/70 (8/9-cat) in per-game value. If he can get back closer to the .723 career-mark at the stripe, it’ll go a long way towards increasing his fantasy value. If he remains with the Warriors this offseason (his last under his current contract), he will be on my board after pick 90 or so. The durability that he showed (73 games) is also a big perk in his favor.

    Otto Porter Jr.
    SF, Utah Jazz
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 UTA 15 1 11.6 0.9 2.2 42.4 0.2 0.2 100.0 0.5 1.5 34.8 2.6 1.9 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.1
    22-23 TOR 8 2 18.3 1.9 3.8 50.0 1.0 1.0 100.0 0.8 2.1 35.3 5.5 2.4 1.0 1.4 0.0 0.5
    21-22 GS 63 15 22.2 3.1 6.6 46.4 0.8 1.0 80.3 1.3 3.4 37.0 8.2 5.7 1.5 1.1 0.5 0.6

    ADP: N/A /141 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 147/117 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 146/115 (8/9-cat)

    The biggest concern that Porter has had since his early days with the Wizards has been in regards to injury. He joined the Warriors on a veteran minimum contract because of his inability to stay on the floor, and the left foot injury prevented him from playing big minutes at any time throughout the season. However, he was integral to the team’s success and his play in the postseason may have earned him a bigger contract elsewhere around the association.

    Porter does have the ability to emerge with top-100 value once again, but the foot issue that was a concern all year has to carry some weight moving forward. The market that exists for Porter will tell us a lot about how he is valued around the league. If he again chooses to play a smaller, bench role for a contending squad, then we should not expect him to have 12-team value outside of streaming nights. If, however, he is signed to a heftier contract for a rebuilding squad, then it’s possible that Porter is ready to take on a starting role at greater than 30 minutes a night. It seems like a bit of a longshot considering how much the Warriors had to manage his left foot injury, but it’s something to keep in mind as the offseason circus is about to ensue.

    Gary Payton II
    PG, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 31 0 15.2 2.2 4.3 51.9 0.3 0.5 64.3 0.5 1.4 34.9 5.2 2.8 1.0 1.0 0.4 0.5
    22-23 GS 22 1 16.7 1.9 3.1 59.4 0.3 0.3 85.7 0.6 1.2 50.0 4.6 3.1 1.4 1.0 0.2 0.7
    21-22 GS 70 16 17.6 3.0 4.9 61.2 0.5 0.8 60.3 0.6 1.7 35.8 7.1 3.5 0.9 1.4 0.3 0.6

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 146/118 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 197/161 (8/9-cat)

    GP2 started out training camp fighting for a job with veteran Avery Bradley. While the veteran players on the Warriors wanted Bradley, Steve Kerr and the Warriors brass felt that Payton was the better fit for this roster. It was actually pretty amazing that Payton earned himself a roster spot while playing through a sports hernia during the majority of training camp and the preseason.

    Now no Warriors veteran is upset about the team’s decision to choose GP2 over Bradley. He was absolutely essential in the team’s success and their ability to win a title. He acted as the flip-side of Jordan Poole in that Poole was the offensive weapon and GP2 was the shut-down defensive presence off the bench. He plays way bigger than his size suggests as he excelled at crashing the boards, something that should translate regardless of where he plays next season. The .358 3-point shooting could be the one area of his game that may not travel because he likely received a bunch of open shots as a result of the other shooting threats on the court.

    While the Warriors would love to keep him under contract, it’s very possible that Payton’s play has earned him a bigger contract elsewhere and while the Warriors would be sad to see him go, they’d be happy for him to get his first big payday in the league. His value will be determined based on whether he is able to earn a starting role or a bench role. In a starting role, GP2 could have some late-round 12-team category value as a 3-and-D wing who can also contribute positively on the glass. It seems more likely that he continues to be a defensive specialist off of a bench who can be viewed as a steals specialist.

    Kevon Looney
    C, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 62 36 16.9 1.9 3.2 59.9 0.7 1.1 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.5 5.9 2.0 0.4 0.4 0.7
    22-23 GS 82 70 23.9 3.0 4.7 63.0 1.1 1.9 60.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.0 9.3 2.5 0.6 0.6 0.5
    21-22 GS 81 79 21.2 2.5 4.5 57.1 0.9 1.5 60.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 7.3 2.0 0.6 0.6 0.8

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 143/132 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 242/224 (8/9-cat)

    In an age where NBA players are playing fewer and fewer games, Looney played in all 82 games of the regular season as well as all 22 playoff games. That’s 104 total games! For a guy who struggled with nerve pain for a couple years after suffering a collar bone injury during the 2019 postseason run, it was truly incredible to see him healthy for an entire season. It exemplifies the toughness that Looney has.

    While Looney is an absolute darling from a reality perspective and will be forever beloved by Warriors fans everywhere after an incredible season (a season in which the Warriors had no true center outside of Looney), his stat set does not translate well to fantasy. Even after playing in all 82, Looney was still not even close to the top-100 by a totals basis. He will continue to be relevant in deeper leagues in search of traditional big man stats, but will struggle to ever get inside the top-150 in per-game value. For additional context, the former UCLA Bruin was outside of the top-150 in per-game value even when Draymond Green was sidelined with his back injury.

    Looney is an unrestricted free agent this summer and it would make sense for the Warriors to make re-signing him their number one priority this offseason. However, James Wiseman’s eventual return from injury could negatively impact Looney’s opportunity, and the Warriors could look to add an additional center in free agency. Looney is a first-round talent in terms of heart, but he can be left off the board altogether in 12-team leagues due to a stat set that just doesn’t lend itself to fantasy success.

    Andre Iguodala
    SF, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    22-23 GS 8 0 14.1 0.9 1.9 46.7 0.3 0.4 66.7 0.1 1.1 11.1 2.1 2.1 2.4 0.5 0.4 1.1
    21-22 GS 31 19.5 1.5 3.9 38.0 0.5 0.6 75.0 0.5 2.4 23.0 4.0 3.2 3.7 0.9 0.7 0.9
    20-21 MIA 63 5 21.3 1.5 3.9 38.3 0.4 0.6 65.8 1.0 2.9 33.0 4.4 3.5 2.3 0.9 0.6 1.1

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 332/323 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 246/238 (8/9-cat)

    Iguodala could very well retire this offseason and even if he does return for another go-around, he will not be a fantasy factor across any format.

    Nemanja Bjelica
    PF, International
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    21-22 GS 70 16.0 2.3 4.8 46.6 0.8 1.2 72.8 0.8 2.1 36.5 6.1 4.1 2.2 0.6 0.4 1.2
    20-21 MIA 36 2 15.5 2.3 5.1 44.3 1.0 1.4 73.5 0.6 2.2 29.1 6.1 3.4 1.8 0.4 0.1 0.9
    19-20 SAC 72 67 27.9 4.4 9.1 48.1 1.0 1.2 82.1 1.9 4.4 41.9 11.5 6.4 2.8 0.9 0.6 1.4

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 211/219 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 287/304 (8/9-cat)

    Inconsistency would be the word that first comes to mind when describing Bjelica’s season for the Warriors. He would have flashes of brilliance on the court, whether it be an on-point pass to a teammate or a great defensive stretch against some of the best players in the world. He would then follow it up with a in-bound pass to the other team or a lack of defensive awareness that led to an easy dunk by their opponent. Overall, he earned the trust of head coach Steve Kerr and that allowed him to stay inside of the team’s deep rotation during their playoff run.

    Entering the summer as an unrestricted free agent, Bjelica will struggle to find fantasy success outside of very deep leagues unless he heads to one of the bottom dwellers and plays big minutes. If he remains with the Warriors or another championship contender, don’t expect him to produce fantasy value outside of 24-team leagues, and even then it’s questionable.

    Damion Lee
    SG, Phoenix Suns
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 PHO 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
    22-23 PHO 74 5 20.4 2.7 6.1 44.2 1.3 1.4 90.4 1.5 3.3 44.5 8.2 3.0 1.4 0.4 0.1 1.1
    21-22 GS 62 5 19.9 2.7 6.1 43.9 1.0 1.2 87.7 1.0 3.0 33.3 7.4 3.2 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 246/235 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 315/297 (8/9-cat)

    Steph’s brother-in-law will likely continue to be a depth piece for this Warriors squad and while he has earned an NBA rotation role on his merits, fantasy success is a far cry for Lee. There was a brief period during the injury-plagued 2019-20 campaign where Lee was a 12-team player, but that was the result of the entire team being injured. Don’t expect Lee to have a fantasy impact outside of 30-team leagues in 2022-23.

    Jonathan Kuminga
    PF, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 65 39 26.1 6.2 11.6 53.0 3.2 4.2 74.3 0.7 2.3 32.4 16.2 4.8 2.1 0.7 0.5 1.7
    22-23 GS 67 16 20.8 3.9 7.4 52.5 1.3 2.1 65.2 0.8 2.2 37.0 9.9 3.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 1.4
    21-22 GS 69 12 16.8 3.3 6.5 50.9 1.9 2.7 68.6 0.7 2.1 32.4 9.2 3.3 0.9 0.4 0.3 1.1

    ADP: 140/138 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 250/265 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 344/367 (8/9-cat)

    Kuminga having an ADP on ESPN or Yahoo is very silly as he was not ready to play any sort of meaningful role for a competitive squad. Perhaps those who drafted him were expecting him to be traded to a non-contending team at some point as he could have had a low-end shot for fantasy value on a franchise like the Magic or Rockets this year. However, the Warriors were able to win the championship without sacrificing their young core but it didn’t lead to much opportunity for their youngsters this year.

    Kuminga did flash his upside at times over the latter half of the season and was even able to get inside the top-200 in per-game value in 22.4 mpg when Draymond Green was sidelined with his back injury. The future is bright for Kuminga and we should expect him to play a bigger role off the bench in 2022-23. That being said, he’s unlikely to have a fantasy impact in 12-team leagues until he starts seeing starter-level opportunity. A path to starting doesn’t seem likely for Kuminga going into next season unless he improves drastically this summer, but it shouldn’t be much more than another season or two before Kuminga puts himself on the map in shallow fantasy formats.

    Juan Toscano-Anderson
    PF, Sacramento Kings
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 SAC 11 0 4.8 0.3 1.1 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.4 25.0 0.6 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.2
    22-23 UTA 52 9 13.5 1.2 2.8 44.8 0.4 0.5 79.2 0.2 0.8 18.6 3.0 2.4 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.7
    21-22 GS 72 6 13.5 1.6 3.2 48.5 0.6 1.0 57.1 0.4 1.2 30.6 4.0 2.4 1.7 0.7 0.3 0.9

    ADP: N/A /143 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 275/293 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 379/402 (8/9-cat)

    JTA is a fan-favorite in Golden State given that he is from East Oakland and has a true underdog story. That being said, he acted more as a cheerleader throughout the season and was only called upon in short stints for his defensive intensity and knowledge of Kerr’s system. We shouldn’t expect JTA to have a fantasy impact moving forward outside of extremely limited streaming spots in 30-deep leagues.

    Moses Moody
    SG, Golden State Warriors
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 GS 51 8 17.8 3.0 6.6 45.7 1.1 1.4 78.9 1.0 3.1 32.7 8.1 3.2 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.7
    22-23 GS 63 3 13.0 1.7 3.6 47.6 0.6 0.8 69.8 0.8 2.1 36.3 4.8 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.1 0.5
    21-22 GS 51 10 11.5 1.5 3.5 43.3 0.5 0.7 77.8 0.8 2.1 35.8 4.4 1.5 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.3

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 374/365 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 466/453 (8/9-cat)

    While Kuminga gets all the shine as the Warriors’ most recent lottery pick, Moody was also selected in the 2021 lottery and had a fine rookie season. His number wasn’t called that often due to the insane amount of depth the Warriors had on the wing, but he shined when he was given playing time. Even as late as the Western Conference Finals vs. the Mavs, Moody was inserted into the game and excelled in his bench role over a three-game sample. He flashed his upside with a 30-point performance and a 20-point showing throughout the year, but like Kuminga he didn’t get the opportunity he needed to deliver fantasy value across any format consistently.

    Moody’s fantasy value early on in his career will come in the form of 3s, rebounds and steals, but there is definite room for growth for the former Arkansas Razorback. Like Kuminga, he will have a better chance at being a consistent part of the rotation heading into next season, but will struggle to produce value outside of the deepest of leagues given all of the mouths the Warriors have to feed on the wing (Klay, Poole, Wiggins).

    Chris Chiozza
    PG, Brooklyn Nets
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    21-22 GS 34 1 10.9 0.7 2.4 29.6 0.1 0.1 66.7 0.5 1.6 32.1 2.0 1.1 1.9 0.4 0.0 0.9
    20-21 BKN 22 1 10.5 1.4 4.0 35.2 0.6 0.8 76.5 0.6 1.9 31.0 4.0 1.1 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.7
    19-20 BKN 28 2 14.3 2.0 5.0 39.3 0.2 0.2 100.0 1.0 2.6 37.5 5.1 1.9 3.0 0.8 0.1 1.1

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 425/444 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 490/513 (8/9-cat)

    Chiozza will look to earn himself another two-way contract as a depth point guard but his size and athletic limitations make him irrelevant in fantasy circles.

    Quinndary Weatherspoon
    PG, Los Angeles Lakers
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    21-22 GS 10 6.9 1.2 2.1 57.1 0.5 0.5 100.0 0.1 0.5 20.0 3.0 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3
    20-21 SA 20 6.1 0.8 1.8 45.7 0.7 0.8 81.2 0.1 0.3 16.7 2.3 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.5
    19-20 SA 10 7.8 0.5 1.7 29.4 0.1 0.2 50.0 0.1 0.5 20.0 1.2 0.7 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.5

    ADP: N/A / N/A (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: 496/490 (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: 511/501 (8/9-cat)

    Weatherspoon will continue to fight for a rotation spot in the league after spending his first season outside of the Spurs organization with the Warriors. He is irrelevant for fantasy purposes at this point in time.

    James Wiseman
    C, Detroit Pistons
    SeasonTeamGPGSMPG FGMFGAFG% FTMFTAFT% 3PTM3PTA3PT% PTSREBAST STLBLKTO
    23-24 DET 48 0 14.9 2.7 4.1 65.8 0.8 1.3 65.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.2 4.6 0.8 0.2 0.6 0.9
    22-23 DET 45 22 19.3 4.2 7.5 55.8 1.5 2.2 70.1 0.1 0.4 20.0 10.0 5.9 0.7 0.2 0.6 1.1
    21-22 GS 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

    ADP: 137/140 (ESPN/Yahoo) | Total Value: N/A / N/A (8/9-cat) | Per-Game Value: N/A / N/A (8/9-cat)

    Don’t draft injured players, especially those who do not have a proven track record of fantasy success in the NBA. We could keep it as simple as that, but it’s a bit more complex in Wiseman’s case moving forward.

    He is slated to play in Summer League in July and if so, he is headed in the right direction from a fantasy perspective. The Warriors biggest area of need is in their frontcourt, as they relied far too heavily on Kevon Looney this past campaign. It worked, but they were an injury away from being in big trouble for most of the season. If Wiseman proves that he is back to full strength this summer, an argument could be made for him being the last selection in 12-team drafts based on upside alone. It’s very plausible that a healthy Wiseman plays a big role within the team’s frontcourt rotation as early as next season.

    Fantasy Star

    After the season that Steph Curry had, I’d love to give him the fantasy star award. However, his ADP didn’t allow for much value during draft season and as a result, we have to look elsewhere for this award. Kevon Looney did play in 104 total games and that in and of itself should deserve an award, but perhaps he earns the toughness award because his game just doesn’t translate to fantasy. The guy who wins this award is none other than the newest member of the Splash Bros., Jordan Poole.

    At one one point in time, Poole looked like one of the worst players in the entire NBA as he struggled mightily through his first season and a half in the league. He spent a lot of time with the Santa Cruz Warriors over that stretch in the G League, and man did it do wonders to his game. Since coming back to the big league club after the All-Star break in 2021, Poole has been a revelation. His blow-by ability is absolutely incredible as he was able to get around nearly everyone in the Association to finish at the rim. He may have a ways to go on the defensive end and some crafty floaters would allow him a better chance against the elite rim-protectors in the league like Robert Williams III, but Poole is here to stay and the future is bright at just 22 years old. The unfortunate part of being the fantasy start this season is that Poole will likely be overrated going into 2022-23 and the glut of wings on the roster could pose a problem in terms of consistent opportunity/usage for all of them. Always be wary of the breakout candidates the season following their breakout; Poole fits that mold.

    Fantasy Letdown

    Klay Thompson has a strong case for this award, but his per-game value excuses him. The true winner of the fantasy letdown award for the Warriors is going to be shared by the first/second-year players who had unrealistic expectations, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman. That they were both being drafted inside of the top-150 on any of the big sites is outrageous given that Wiseman was injured to start the year and Kuminga came into the season as a raw 19-year-old prospect who was playing for a championship aspiring squad. The recent run of rookies who have had fantasy success in their first seasons in the league has to be taken with a grain of salt because it’s the exception to the rule and not the norm. Kuminga was never expected to play a big role for the Warriors his first season and as such, should have not been drafted across any redraft format. Wiseman, on the other hand, came into the season with a very serious injury and wasn’t projected to return until very late in the year. While he had a chance of playing a big role within the frontcourt rotation when he was healthy, it was still a question mark.

    Don’t draft injured players and be wary of all rookies coming into the league, especially those who are playing on competitive squads.

    One to Watch

    The player to watch on the Warriors moving forward is Klay Thompson and how he responds after his first healthy offseason since 2018. He struggled at times this past year after returning from an ACL tear and a torn Achilles, but his confidence never wavered. His defensive instincts were not what they once were, but we saw improvement in that regard late into the postseason.

    If Klay can return to even close to the player he was pre-injury, the Warriors’ dynastic run could continue for quite some time. The efficiency was the worst we’ve ever seen from Sea Captain throughout his entire career, and if that and the steals climb up Thompson will be a much more dynamic fantasy option. Also, he won’t miss nearly as many games given that he is projected to start the season healthy. There isn’t much untapped upside to be had given Klay’s advanced age (32), but a return to pre-injury form would be a big swing in the right direction for the beloved NBA figure. Plus, it’s always fun to see what he has going on outside of basketball, whether it be his boating adventures, his love affair with his bulldog Rocco or simply exclaiming “holy cannoli” after winning the title.

    One Burning Question

    This one is easy, what will the Warriors frontcourt rotation look like to start 2022-23? Re-signing Kevon Looney has to be near the top of the team’s offseason priority list, but the status quo of the frontcourt has to evolve if the Warriors want to remain on top of the league. What will they get from former second-overall pick James Wiseman after he sat out all of this past campaign with the meniscus tear? If he is healthy, can he impact winning? How many more seasons can the Warriors rely on Draymond Green to play the small-ball five for large stretches of the season? Does it make sense for them to invest elsewhere in free agency on a backup center who can play within Steve Kerr’s system?

    Sure, the team could be slightly worried about a backup point guard for Steph Curry, but Jordan Poole’s emergence has put a lot of those concerns to bed as he appeared capable of leading the second unit when Curry was on the bench. The frontcourt playoff rotation includes three players (Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica) who are unrestricted free agents this summer and while a healthy Wiseman can be penciled into the rotation, the team will have to make moves this summer to help combat some of the bigs they struggled with in the postseason like Jaren Jackson Jr. and Robert Williams III.

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