Well placed in the race for the playoffs in the West, the Warriors nevertheless deplore a lack of attractiveness within the league. This was again verified on the market, since a big name would have preferred to remain in a dead end rather than join them!
As defending champions, they should even try to defend their status during the postseason. As a result, the Warriors would like to spare themselves a participation in the play-in tournament, which had not smiled on them in 2020. Currently 7th in the West (34-33), they therefore know they are behind on their objective. , and would have liked to be able to strengthen themselves to reach it. Easier said than done though.
Warriors ignored by former MVP
Despite all their will, the leaders of Golden State did not overly animate the trade deadline. Only Gary Payton II made his return to the workforce on this occasion, which is not necessarily something to make fans dream. The latter would undoubtedly have been a little more amazed if another, more prestigious track had had a positive outcome. Sean Deveney from Heavy.com takes care of reporting the below:
According to sources who were able to discuss the subject with Heavy Sports, the Warriors were close to making a move for another veteran player. Had he been bought out, the Warriors would have been interested in bringing Derrick Rose.
Dismissed from the rotation of the Knicks for many months, Rose seemed destined to redeem his contract, and therefore to rebound as a free agent. A scenario that did not materialize despite the interest of the Dubs, and this… at the initiative of the MVP 2011 according to a source of the journalist:
I’m not that surprised he wasn’t bought out, no. The team option for next year on his contract complicated things a bit, and then he just didn’t want to leave the Knicks. He appreciates Thibs. He likes New York. But the question of his future arises, because everything was in place for him to leave and go to the team he wanted. The Knicks would have allowed it.
He could have gone to Phoenix to try to win a title, or he could have gone back to Chicago. Golden State was also ready to join the fight, like Miami. He would have had some great options. But he wanted to stay where he doesn’t play, and where the team is good enough without being a real contender. Derrick is a loyal person. He is loyal to Thibs and to (William) Wesley. But they would have been OK to let him go.
He didn’t want to. It makes you wonder if he will continue to play for a long time, because he had the opportunity to reshape his end of career, and he decided not to seize it.
While waiting to find out what D-Rose’s plan really consists of for his end of his career in the league, the Bay franchise can clearly regret the surprising outcome of this case!
Once hyper-attractive, Warriors no longer seem so attractive to their targets. The proof with the case of Derrick Rose, who continues to wax the bench in New York instead of reinforcing the troops of Steve Kerr!
