NBA Rumors: Warriors, offseason, Hawks, Jalen Johnson, Sixers

Warriors

Without a doubt, the Warriors have lots to decide this offseason, and it all starts now.

For the record, ESPN has them placed No. 16 in the way-too-early power rankings, released almost immediately after the conclusion of the Finals.

From the sounds of things, coach Steve Kerr also has them placed somewhere in that range.

“We had to come to a much more reality-based shared vision on what success looks like for us,” Kerr said on some meetings with team owner Joe Lacob, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “What are we trying to accomplish? Because for the first time since our injury-plagued year (2019-20), we aren’t sitting here saying, ‘Hey, we can win a championship.'”

Golden State can go in several directions. They could re-sign Kristaps Porzingis. They really could go after LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard (or both). They could try to make a trade (and here’s to saying they will indeed try).

Slater summarized it this way:

“They will sniff around the trade market, but so far they aren’t signaling an aggressive tone about swinging a blockbuster that mortgages the future.

“Signs continue to point to them using the 11th overall pick in the draft to inject some youth into an aging roster as they slowly ride the Stephen Curry era to the finish line.”

RELATED | Could Porzingis be headed elsewhere in free agency?

Hawks

For the entire second half of the season and the first few games of the playoffs, the Hawks looked really good.

Then they became a victim of the Knicks pulling it together. They don’t need to feel bad. That same thing happened to everyone on New York’s march to the title.

Now, it’s decision time.

“The Hawks will look to improve on a team that showed promise after the Trae Young trade, winning 18 of 20 games during one torrid late season stretch before taking a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in the first round,” wrote ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

“Jalen Johnson is primed to be a star and Onsi Saleh has assets if he wants to add another contributor this offseason or continue to build and develop a young roster by adding the eighth and 23rd overall picks in the draft.”

But again, there are some perhaps tough calls ahead.

“The Hawks will have to decide what to do with unrestricted free agent CJ McCollum, who hit big shots to get that first-round lead over the Knicks, and Jonathan Kuminga, whose contract has a $24.3 million team option,” Youngmisuk concluded.

76ers

It has already been a summer of change for the Sixers, starting with the hire of new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey.

Next up: The team itself. 

Everything in Philadelphia starts with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. You can throw Paul George in there, too, because he’s still productive and he is owed a massive amount of money. 

So, yeah. Gansey will need to get right to work in sorting through everything, with the draft and free agency right around the bend.

“With three max contracts on the books, the 76ers only have so much flexibility and will all but certainly be into the luxury tax if they just retain Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes, both unrestricted free agents, this summer,” wrote ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

That about covers it. And good luck, Mr. Gansey.