Bob Myers shares what are the strict requirements for adding new players to the Warriors roster
It is not much of a surprise that the Golden State Warriors let the trade deadline pass without making any moves. Everything is clicking on all cylinders right now. Stephen Curry is playing at an all-time high again while Klay Thompson is fully healthy. They also have the right pieces around their core. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
No one stands out from the market
Apart from their solid team chemistry, the president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Myers reveals one other reason why they passed up on the trade deadline. They cannot just add a player who is good on paper. That player, too, has to have the smarts to learn Steve Kerr's motion-heavy offense.
“If we thought Draymond was not going to be back, or Wiseman, and we thought some player would really help us, we would do that."
“At this stage, as far as clamoring for a big guy, there isn’t an obvious, 'Go get that guy,' and he fits with what we do and can run our offense. It’s not just taking any big and saying, ‘This guy’s going to be able to rebound, block shots and be able. To run your offense.’ Our offense is intricate. Our offense is complicated,” Myers said, per 95.7 The Game as transcribed by NBC Sports Bay Area.
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In other words, it does not matter if you are the best scorer or defender in the face of the planet. If you don't know how to integrate your playing style into the Warriors' sophisticated playbook, then bid goodbye to your chance of ever donning their jerseys and perhaps winning a championship or two.
Recipe for success
Myers may have revealed the organization's recipe for success. They have a strong vision and intend to stick to it no matter what. The formation of star duos or trios in other teams will never bother them. Myers believes that solidifying their identity is the proper route to take.
It certainly helps that they have the greatest shooter of all time in the fold. But then again, Curry did not become as lethal as he is now before Steve Kerr came to town. When the former Chicago Bulls guard helmed the sidelines in 2014, he just knew how to maximize Curry's searing talent for swishing the net. Kerr didn't need a season or two to figure it out. Instead, he quickly guided the Warriors to the NBA Championship in his first season.
This is also the reason why the Warriors didn't just break up their team in those two seasons when they failed to make the playoffs. Myers was smart enough to know that the reason for their struggles was the injuries to their core players. In addition, they believed that Kerr, once given the right pieces, would find a way to make his offense up and running again. As such, Myers's job — along with his group of scouts — is to find the group of players who can play the Warriors brand of basketball. It doesn’t matter how, where, and how long it would take. Once they spot that player, they move mountains to get him.
Looking at the Warriors roster right now, the likes of Juan Toscano-Anderson, Nemanja Bjelica, Jordan Poole, Damion Lee, Gary Payton II, Otto Porter Jr, were nowhere near our consciousness a few years ago. Now, they're intrinsic parts of the Warriors' system. So don't be surprised if they add NBA Champion to their resume.