There is a reason why the Golden State Warriors just finished one of the most dominant NBA championship runs of the modern era and it’s mostly because of the supporting cast. While they have their core of NBA MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala locked up for at least the next two seasons, the reality is that in order to stay on top, GM Bob Myers has to be smart when it comes to building the supporting cast. The Warriors have the ability to spend money but their pockets aren’t as deep as some of the league’s other teams and shrewd management is required when it comes to building a strong supporting cast.
So when Golden State acquired Jason Thompson from the Philadelphia 76ers for Gerald Wallace plus draft picks and cash considerations, it was immediately clear Myers had executed another deal with the type of sneaky-good value that fell along the lines of what you would expect from the reigning NBA Executive of the Year.
Trimming Payroll, Not Quality
First of all, the deal for Thompson was the second of a combination move for the Warriors that began when they sent David Lee to the Boston Celtics for Wallace earlier in the offseason. By then moving Wallace to the 76ers for Thompson, Golden State gets a quality backup forward while reducing its payroll by $8.6 million and potentially dropping their luxury-tax bill by more than $14 million. The fact that the Warriors were able to fill a need while also reducing their payroll by nearly $10 million is a major coup for Myers but it isn’t the only benefit of the deal.
Rearranging The Depth
When Lee was moved for Wallace, it opened up the obvious problem of having too many small forwards on the roster without a backup big man. Golden State doesn’t need Wallace when it already has Barnes and Iguodola on the wing, but they did need another big man that can come off the bench behind Green and Andrew Bogut. Thompson should slide in nicely as a versatile big man that can play both positions. In the end, the Warriors basically traded Lee for Thompson, didn’t lose on quality but saved a ton of money.
Thompson…Underrated?
Thompson isn’t going to be confused with LaMarcus Aldridge but he fills a need at a reasonable price, which is something that Lee didn’t after his role was reduced big time last season. Golden State has no problem playing small but in the event that they want to have another big man in the lineup, they could feel free to use Thompson when necessary. Thompson averaged 6.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game for Sacramento last season and is a low-maintenance, high-energy performer that can provide a veteran presence for youngsters James Michael McAdoo and Kevin Looney.
But Thompson is also a player that could be somewhat underrated. Yes, he’s 29 years old but remember that he was selected 12th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in his rookie season and 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in his sophomore season. He’s been buried on a lousy Sacramento team but he’s finally in a winning environment with good coaches. Lee was often injured and sometimes ineffective when in the lineup. Thompson should give this team fresh legs in the same role and he’ll probably be able to give the team much more than Lee offered.
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A Quiet But Solid Offseason For The Champs
The Warriors absolutely dominated from start to finish last season and while they haven’t been talked about much this offseason, the moves they have made deserve recognition. Myers was able to lock up Green with a long-term deal, draft Looney with the 30th overall pick and acquire Thompson at a bargain price. That leaves Golden State in ideal position heading in to this coming season. The Warriors might not be talked about as much as the San Antonio Spurs or Cleveland Cavaliers, but this group has proven how dominant it can be and probably should get more attention as the defending champs as they get set to begin their title defense.
