The biggest mistake of the Golden State Warriors as a franchise in the last decade
Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers (left) and owner Joe Lacob watch their team’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 6, 2021 in San Francisco, California.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 6: Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers (left) and owner Joe Lacob watch their team’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on October 6, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTICE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photo, User agrees to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors have accomplished a lot over the past decade, winning four NBA championships and reaching the Finals twice more. But like any sports franchise, the Warriors can’t get every decision right. They succeeded despite some questionable choices, one of which was clearly the biggest mistake of the last 10 years.
Drafting James Wiseman second overall was viewed as the Golden State Warriors’ biggest mistake of the past decade. In a post that has since gone viral on social media, X-user @OTownNBA shared a graphic showing the biggest mistake every NBA team has made since 2013. Like most franchises, the Warriors’ big mistake came on draft night. After finishing with a league-worst 15-50 record in 2019-20, Golden State had a chance to draft in the top two for the first time since 1995. They drafted 7-foot center James Wiseman, hoping to pair him with athletes. center the greatest kicking back yard of all time and former Defensive Player of the Year in Draymond Green.
After some promising early signs, Wiseman was sidelined by a knee injury that wiped out his entire sophomore season. The Warriors never saw a return on their investment, trading him to the Detroit Pistons after just 60 games.
To make matters worse, he was sidelined by All-Stars in his first three seasons. First overall pick Anthony Edwards looks/is a franchise player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, while LaMelo Ball averaged nearly 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists for his career.
Golden State bounced back from one
disastrous season to win the 2022 NBA
championship with no minutes from the
2020 second overall pick. Even if it’s not a
franchise decision, it would be nice to have
something to show for a year where they
decided to wrap it up early thanks to
injuries to Curry and Thompson.
They have Gary Payton II to show for their
efforts, and getting him as part of the
Wiseman trade is looking smarter by the
day. Wiseman’s career is now on the rocks
as he continues to receive a DNP under head
coach Monty Williams in Detroit.
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