Confidence in the Bay Area was at an all-time high when the Golden State Warriors defeated Houston in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite them knowing they were going up against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Yes, the same team led by a 23-year-old Anthony Edwards, which was out to hunt superstars, but the Dubs were unfazed. Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Stephen Curry next? Surely not. For some time, it seemed that Minnesota’s dominance might be over, but that didn’t last long. Steph Curry exited with a hamstring sprain in Game 1 as the Warriors secured a 1-0 lead. What came next was devastating for Golden State.

Curry’s timeline for a return was expected to be around Game 6. That should be doable, right? Especially when you possess a 1-0 lead in the series. Well, not really. The Warriors lost four straight games as the Wolves did not even give a chance for Curry to return to the floor. We can argue about all we want about how the series could’ve been a lot different had Steph not gotten injured. But the truth is, Minnesota was the better team either way. This brings us to another question: What’s next for the Warriors? It’s clear that they need a makeover to win another championship with Stephen Curry. They need to maximize the time left their their core of Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.

Stephen Curry’s family member, Austin Rivers, shares this thought. “You improve their roster where they get some shooting and not five guys out there that can’t, like, make a decision for themselves. They’ll do much better.” Rivers suggested. Well, we’ve all seen it now that the Warriors need to build a better supporting cast around Curry and Butler. But how? “I think they can vastly improve their roster. Man, some of these guys, I just don’t think are great players. I have nothing against Gary Payton. This is what the second or third? I don’t think he’s a bad player. I think he’s a liability on the offensive end.” He added on his podcast, ‘Off Guard with Austin Rivers.‘

Rivers does have a point. Gary Payton II has been great on the defensive end, but offensively, he doesn’t add much to the team. The Warriors are in dire need of two players, like the ones they’ve had in the past. So, a trade for Payton II might be on the cards, according to Rivers. Not just that! There are also question marks over Jonathan Kuminga. He’s had more swings than an MLB player in his time at San Francisco. But now might be the time to make a final decision on the 23-year-old forward. Moreover, Stephen Curry’s ally also believes that players like Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, and Kevon Looney are good pieces to keep. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors’ front office approaches this situation. However, it seems like they are already making moves.

The Warriors Make a Move for an Unexpected Bucks Star

The Golden State Warriors were humiliated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, as their season came to a brutal end. With Stephen Curry not having many more chances to get his hands on another championship, the Dubs are already looking for ways to improve their roster for the upcoming campaign. But how are they going to do it? Well, the Warriors are eyeing a big man to help give this Warriors team some much-needed height. We all know that Golden State is one of the shorter teams in the league, and that puts them in a precarious position against physical teams such as Minnesota.

To solve these issues, ESPN’s Bobby Marks believes that one name that could be on the Warriors’ radar is Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez. “I think the one name to keep an eye on regarding that center position is Brook Lopez. Stanford grad, makes his home in Fresno,” Marks said on NBA Today. “What is the number on a Brook Lopez-type contract if you can get him on a one-year flyer here to patch up that center position. Because the center market is thin, when you look at Myles Turner. You’re probably not gonna afford him. The next best guy out there is Brook Lopez.”

Indeed, bringing in Lopez could make a lot of sense for the Warriors. His status as a three-and-D center is something they’ve been missing for quite a while now. Yes, the 37-year-old isn’t as good as he was when in won the Defensive Player of the Year honor in the 2022-23 season, but he’s still a solid center. The Milwaukee star finished the regular season averaging 13 points along with five rebounds. Certainly, the Warriors could offer him a prominent role. Lopez is also a great option financially, as he’s expected to take a huge cut from his $48 million two-year contract with the Bucks. So, the only thing that remains to be seen is if he can still play as the starting center for a playoff team.