Optimistic. Never starting a podcast--so, everyone, please remain calm.
Joined March 2012
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Once again, not sure who needs to hear this but:
The Warriors winning in ‘22 did NOT justify or exonerate Joe’s 2 Timelines plan.
They won *in spite* of it. Then doubling down heavily contributed to failing the title defense & seasons after.
Lazy reasoning to use ‘22 to defend
Close to fair imo. But not immediately clear it’s “good” value for the Warriors.
From a team building perspective, I’d prefer role players that we’d view as team-friendly deals (yes, that’s underpaid).
Just in: Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski has agreed to a five-year, $110 million fully guaranteed rookie-scale contract extension, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball tells ESPN. The deal includes a mutual option in the fifth year (2031-32) and a trade kicker.
After Joe Lacob’s recent defensiveness about JK, it will be more interesting to see this arc play out on Minny, a relatively in-prime team with clear aspirations for contention.
BREAKING: Jonathan Kuminga has agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, plus a player option, agent Aaron Turner tells ESPN. Kuminga will be a starter alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert on the West contender.
With Klay going to the Heat, reposting this thread that explained how the Warriors deprioritized Klay in 2024 to chase the eventually unsuccessful trade using CP3.
No one was required to want Klay back, but a bit naive to think loyalty would come into play with him imo.
It’s very frustrating when people declare into mics that fans need to give Lacob the benefit of doubt. All based on a past that had drastically different decision makers & context.
We can pay attention to the rest of the NBA & history—Joe riding coattails is 100% on the table.
If you gave anyone 2 lotto picks in 2020 and 2021 and they went with James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, they would be fired and likely never get another job in the NBA.
Based off what has been widely reported by credible local media members, Joe was heavily heavily involved in those picks. And I think it's pretty obvious given his quotes after they were drafted and while they were on the roster, he thought they were going to be franchise guys and had some serious final say on those picks.
And he's clearly still in charge. So that's why I'll always be annoyed. Not because of this summer even tho that was pretty shitty too.
Btw, you know what’s pretty lame
about Joe talking like this? He’s exploiting the awareness of the avg local fan. I’d argue most don’t zoom in on 29 other teams/rosters, esp over the course of years.
It’s not praiseworthy to find a rotation guy w/ a 7th overall every few years.
Joe Lacob on the Warriors drafting Jonathan Kuminga:
"I do not view Jonathan Kuminga as a mistake. I think we may have made some mistakes in how would we handle it and how he handled it, maybe he made some mistakes, and obviously that's well documented and we had to move on, but he's an NBA player and played in the playoffs, and did really well. This not a mistake at the 7th pick. There were 7th picks that are out of the League."
Steph leaving in any manner is mostly silly from the perspective of a Dubs fan.
But the “Warriors failing Steph” point is a mostly separate matter. Might even be a weak man premise. Mishandled end? Poorly gambled? And Steph’s opinion (or perceived opinion), isn’t inherent proof.
I don’t doubt Joe chases a certain type of star, but just wasted so much time on his 2 Timelines vision.
Earlier in Steph’s window, he was either misleading or ignorant when he declared they couldn’t afford another high-cost star—which proved false when Poole got his extension.
And there lies the problem. Lacob wants the star. Lacob wants the splash. Sometimes it should just be about taking the win. There was no splash in Wiggins, or Livingston not even Igudola really. But there were wins.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas…
I’ve said it before: Until Joe Lacob steps back and stops meddling in basketball operations, he’s a liability to my favorite team. And I will endlessly view/talk/gripe about him as that.
There is little proof that he should have this much authority in crafting a roster.
Lacob’s only undisputed contribution to GSW’s success was a willingness to keep the spending head start vs other contenders. A wasteful 2nd Timeline luxury cut into that. But turning the Poole/CP3 slot into nothing completely erased any advantage.
Now relies on his FO meddling…
I would only point out that there are some different areas of criticism:
-Present/Near-future (i.e., 2026-27 plans)
-Past mistakes & how to avoid repeating them (i.e., Lacob's meddling)
-General lashing out over the end
1st=fruitless, 2nd=existential, & 3rd=emotional imho
This comp feels way off. OKC's young guys were the core of a championship. Who would argue they should be traded away?
The point is potential, predictions, hopes, etc are unproven. Mystery boxes have value, but the more proven players are, the better you can build.
A clear case for the Warriors biggest mistake. 2022 was their Sliding Doors moment.
Most other franchises would’ve laser focused on a title defense, but Lacob’s FO started thirsting for the future which ultimately diluted the whole product. It was a poorly conceived hedge.
The Warriors front office deserves more criticism for this one thing than anything else
si.com/nba/warriors/onsi/the…
What in the Jerry Jones & Reinsdorf?? This is genuinely insane.
Lacob could be bad for years and fans just gotta live with it?
They really can’t pump the brakes & consider for a sec that a superstar-driven windows might mean correlation≠causation?
Sam Amick argues that few owners have changed a franchise's fortunes the way Joe Lacob has, which is why he has little sympathy for any backlash:
"The thing the fans don’t want to hear is that Lacob could be worst owner in basketball for the rest of his time owning the franchise and I wouldn't really have a lot of sympathy for the fans."
Here’s what I want the local GSW media to answer:
At what point is it reasonable for fans to be really critical about management?
Because it seems like it wasn’t ever OK in any season between 2020-26. They may point to ‘22, but top complaints are about future assets, not vets.
I still say the FO is roughly replacement-level & just got massive breaks: Inheriting Steph w/ no team ready for 3P era, historic cap spike as their all-timer was peaking & another all-timer was FA, etc.
When luck regressed, their mediocrity felt worse w/ Steph’s limited window.
