The Golden State Warriors have won their third Larry O'Brien Trophy in the last four seasons and who knows when, or who can stop them. Golden State has dropped the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to each of the NBA championships, while their tall guy, small forward Kevin Durant, has captured the last two finals MVP awards. Each team has their own backstory and this team has said that they are no different to the adversity that each team has on the way to success. Question's surrounding this team include whether the team will be able to stay intact, what are this team's flaws, and who's the star?
Ownership says they will try to keep same Warriors team
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob wants to keep this Warriors team together for as long as possible, but he recognizes that it will not be easy. "All good things cost a lot," Lacob told Shelburne. "We're going to try to sign Klay and Draymond to extensions this summer." Lacob added that they will do whatever it takes to resign those guys, but the future of this team could go "a number of different ways."
Keeping the Golden State Warriors together
Since Durant came on the scene in 2016, the Warriors became an overwhelming favorite to win the NBA championship the day after they won their previous. They had already won a trophy before Durant arrived, but the lengthy small forward pushed them over the top, making it that much more obvious to the rest of the league.
Now, it is 2018 and three championships later, players such as Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are going to want a pay raise.
🏆 The @warriors return home with new hardware! #ThisIsWhyWePlay pic.twitter.com/C3HrBSVhga
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2018
Thompson and Green are each expected to make almost $19 million over the next couple of years, while Durant is a bit higher at $25 million.
Durant already accepted a $10 million pay cut to give ownership and management leeway to be able to sign forward/guard Andre Iguodala who signed a three-year, $48 million deal last July. Stephen Curry, the face of the Warriors franchise, took a pay cut to allow Durant to sign with them in the first place.
Thompson, on the other hand, likely has no objection to staying in Golden State, but his father Mychal Thompson told The Athletic that although his son wants to be a career Warrior, their likely will not be any commitment or negotiation until the summer of 2019. It is unclear whether he would be willing to make the same sacrifice as his other teammates have.