Here are our player scouting reports and analysis for the Golden State Warriors.
Projected starters
Stephen Curry
Position: Guard
Experience: 6 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ The game's premier shooter
+ Underrated passing and vision but turnover prone
+ Good defensive IQ and quick hands but suspect individual defender
Analysis
Curry ascended to MVP status last season, as a revamped Warriors offensive playbook simultaneously reduced his workload while increasing scoring opportunities for him. Rather than being forced to create out of static pick-and-roll sets, Curry was able to get the ball on the move off cuts and screens before going into pick-and-rolls. To Curry's credit, his increased aggression level when met with these easier sets led to fantastic, memorable plays that had massive momentum-shifting effects during games. More impressively, the new Warriors staff put the onus on Curry to defend his position, rather than have him hidden and cross match as previous staffs had. And Curry answered the call, defending very effectively in the Golden State scheme.
Having won the championship raises the bar significantly for both team and leader, but the good news is the Warriors' continuity ensures a deeper understanding of the playbook, meaning more options and more wrinkles out of the schemes they mastered in a single season. That makes life easier for Curry, which in turn gives him more of an opportunity to be dominant.
Klay Thompson
Position: Guard
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Elite spot-up shooter; improved ball handler
+ Excels coming off screens and pin-downs; good post-up option
+ Gritty and versatile on-ball defender
Analysis
Thompson expanded his game beyond spot shooting and coming off screens, adding some ballhandling and play creation, posting a career-high assist percentage of 14.6. No one is confusing him for Steph Curry, but Thompson's improvement helped a Warriors offense remove a great deal of the stagnation that had plagued it in years past. In turn, the increased responsibility combined with a more fluid offense led to more and easier scoring opportunities for Thompson, reducing the emphasis on creating against set defenses.
More importantly, Thompson's length and defensive aptitude went a long way toward helping a suffocating, league-leading team defense. Thompson allowed Golden State to switch seamlessly in many possessions with lineups that included Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green and Shaun Livingston. That same trait allowed the Warriors to trot out "jumbo small-ball lineups" in which the wings actually enjoyed size advantages against most opponents.
Harrison Barnes
Position: Forward
Experience: 4 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Scoring forward who excels playing off ball, moving off screens
+ Good post option versus smaller defenders
+ Excelled as a small-ball 4 in the postseason
Analysis
Life on offense was decidedly easier for many of the Warriors last season, but no one likely benefited more than Barnes, who saw his role reduced but his efficiency soar as a result. By focusing his efforts onto his core competencies of spot-up shooting and attacking mismatches, Barnes was far more valuable and efficient, acting as a release valve on offense when primary, secondary and sometimes tertiary options were counteracted by rotating and loading help defenses. In essence, the Warriors' offense can be generically described as "we can try this, or this, or this, and if none of that works, Barnes is either wide open or attacking a mismatch." This is a far cry from his workload in prior seasons, when he isolated almost twice as much as he did in 2014-15 (14.9 percent vs. 8.9 percent).
Another interesting development was how well Barnes played as a small-ball 4. While his rebounding on the defensive end leaves a lot to be desired, he was a much more effective defender against bigger players, where his quickness gave him an advantage yet he still maintained enough strength to combat bigs. It's something to keep an eye on to not only get Barnes more minutes in a spot he can be effective, but also to provide better spacing in lineups, especially when Green is on the floor with him.
Draymond Green
Position: Forward
Experience: 3 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-IQ, versatile combo forward
+ Improving perimeter shooter
+ Elite individual and team defender; very good defensive rebounder
Analysis
If Curry was the most important player in the Warriors' championship campaign, Green was arguably runner-up. His defensive versatility made him the linchpin for the league's best defense, as Green legitimately defended all five positions well. Although he is not an explosive athlete, Green moves extremely well laterally, adeptly using his length to give himself enough of a cushion against quicker opponents. While he's only 6-foot-6 on a good day, that lack of height actually benefits him defensively because it gives him a lower center of gravity, allowing him to uproot opponents in the initial fight for position prior to the catch. Finally, his defensive rebounding remained solidly efficient. He corralled over 22 percent of opponent misses, and enjoyed the added freedom afforded him by coach Steve Kerr to bust out after the board and initiate the fast-break offense. That gave Golden State another playmaking threat and further reduced stress and the workload on Curry.
This is part of Green's bigger offensive role, which included him playmaking from the pinch post and shallow rolling after screen sets and putting the ball on the floor. Amazingly, this boost in involvement not only improved his overall offensive efficiency, but reduced the number of turnovers committed per possession, as he posted a career-low turnover percentage (13.5 percent).
For his efforts, Green was rewarded with a five-year, $82 million deal, making him the highest-paid player from his draft class (as a result of the expiring of his three-year deal as a second-rounder vs. the four-year deals his first-round counterparts received). While Kerr was somewhat reluctant to turn to small-ball lineups with Green at the 5 (despite devastating defensive efficiency and excellent offensive production), the expectation is he'll turn to that option more often this season.
Andrew Bogut
Position: Center
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ High-IQ defensive anchor and rim protector
+ Elite rebounder on either end of the floor
+ Smart passer from high post; efficient finisher around rim
Analysis
The numbers won't reflect the full extent, but Bogut's increased involvement on the offensive end was one of the most important developments of the 2014-15 season. By running so much of the offense through Bogut in the high post, the Warriors were able to capitalize on his elite passing while fielding a universe of additional options offensively for their main guns, Curry and Thompson. By feeding Bogut at the pinch post then running split screens, the Golden State backcourt gave opposing defenses an unappetizing menu of poisons to pick from, as defenders had to decide whether to switch, hedge and recover, zone up, stay attached, etc. And that was all while weakside Warriors would spot up or cut to the front of the rim. All that action is possible because the threat of Bogut's vision makes all four other players a threat (that's not to mention Bogut's own ability to take one or two dribbles and get to the front of the rim).
Defensively, he was as solid as ever, providing rim protection, rebounding and a good dose of nastiness and intimidation. While Golden State turned almost exclusively to small-ball lineups (or ones that featured Festus Ezeli) to finish off the Cavs in the Finals, that memory should not erase all of Bogut's contributions en route to the championship series in the playoffs and regular season. Still, as Bogut continues to age (he'll be 31 in November and has more than his fair share of serious injuries in his career), the need to monitor his minutes becomes more important for the Warriors.
Reserves
Andre Iguodala
Position: Forward
Experience: 11 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic, playmaking point forward; good set shooter
+ Elite wing defender with high IQ
+ 2015 NBA Finals MVP
Analysis
Winning the Finals MVP crystallized the intangible value of Iguodala, one of the best all-round players not known for his scoring prowess. He's probably the closest thing to Scottie Pippen we have in the game today, as a true 6-foot-7 athlete who can handle the ball and pass with vision and accuracy while also being one of the best defenders in the NBA. Iguodala's defensive aptitude doesn't just come by virtue of his length, agility and quickness; it's rooted in a brilliant understanding of the game and excellent feel for when to break off the pre-prescribed rotations to gamble for a steal or an unscripted double. At the same time, while most elite wing defenders are usually passive observers on the offensive end, Iguodala creates headaches for opponents with his ability to run pick-and-roll and find teammates at the rim or in the corners for open, efficient shots. Over the years, his own ability to score from the perimeter has improved considerably, and being with Golden State allows him to pick and choose his offensive moments more selectively. All of these traits played a direct role in his ability to stymie LeBron James in the Finals and led to his Finals MVP recognition.
Shaun Livingston
Position: Guard
Experience: 10 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Oversized, high-IQ true point guard
+ One of most efficient post scorers in NBA
+ Smart defender who uses his size and IQ effectively
Analysis
Despite attempting only two 3-pointers (missing both), Livingston fit in almost seamlessly because of Golden State's creative and versatile lineups, which at times featured him at the small-ball 4. A brilliant player whose own meteoric rise was cut short by a devastating knee injury almost a decade ago, Livingston has successfully reinvented himself into an efficient, if unorthodox, talent. He takes full advantage of his height, and despite being a slender player, has consistently been one of the best post scorers in the NBA over the past few seasons. Moreover, his vision and passing discourage overzealous help defenders from digging too far in. But Livingston's role on offense was expanded beyond post-ups and pick-and-rolls, as he showcased tremendous finishing ability around the rim, and was able to be more of a scoring threat cutting off-ball to the rim. Defensively, Livingston's length, size and IQ greatly aided the Warriors' efforts off the bench, as he was able to participate in multiple switches in any given possession.
Leandro Barbosa
Position: Guard
Experience: 12 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Scoring combo guard who finishes well at the rim; very good in transition
+ Excellent spot-up shooter out to 3-point range
+ Positive locker room influence
Analysis
Barbosa was brought to Golden State for two reasons: his familiarity with the playbook (which borrowed heavily on concepts and sets that were run in Phoenix) and his ability as a culture influencer. On the court, Barbosa fits the Warriors' up-tempo style of play as a guard who can either lead the break or fill the wings and finish at a high clip at the rim. In the half court, he was used mostly as a release-valve spot-up shooter. Ideally, his reputation would keep defenses at home and give the rest of the offense space to operate, but if defenders decided to help off him, he'll hurt them with his shooting. Barbosa also does a good job of weakside motion to make it more difficult for defenses to recover and close out. Defensively, he still has lapses and a tendency to overhelp at times, but he was much improved over prior seasons.
Marreese Speights
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Skilled pick-and-pop big; excellent midrange shooter
+ Excellent offensive rebounder and active presence around the rim
+ OK defensive rebounder but all-around defensive liability
Analysis
It's hard to figure out whether Speights plays with supreme confidence or blind ignorance, but either way, he has no hesitation or qualms about getting shots up. A good athlete, Speights has a tendency to instead settle to pop after setting screens, rather than rolling all the way to the rim. But it's worth mentioning he excels at the midrange jumper. He still hasn't been able to develop any consistency out to 3-point range, but the combination of the strong midrange game and activity on the offensive glass makes him useful enough. Defensively, he's still a train wreck, but 2014-15 represented his most consistent defensive effort over a season, and he drew the third-most charges in the league last season, according to HoopsManifesto.com.
Jason Thompson
Position: Forward
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Pick-and-pop big out to midrange
+ Good offensive rebounder
+ Decent positional defender
Analysis
Thompson will be fighting for minutes at backup 4 with Speights, and on paper at least, he seems to duplicate some of the things Speights does. Thompson is most comfortable popping out to midrange, although he's a streaky shooter from there, and he's not an explosive athlete who can finish at the rim. Many of Thompson's issues can be traced to playing for a subpar Kings franchise that probably asked too much of him, especially given the dearth of talent on the roster. He wasn't a good fit alongside DeMarcus Cousins, given that neither was able to create enough space for the other. Defensively, he's solid in execution of schemes (which would make him a significant upgrade over Speights), a good rebounder, and can block a shot coming across the weak side, so that might give him an edge in the rotation on the second unit.
Festus Ezeli
Position: Center
Experience: 2 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic, defensive big body, rim protector and active rebounder
+ Suspect hands but has shown improvement; good finisher when he catches
+ Missed 36 games after missing entirety of 2013-14 season
Analysis
Ezeli played a big role in the Finals, as the Warriors moved to smaller lineups and started Draymond Green at the 5, then brought Ezeli in as the backup center for defensive purposes. Ezeli's development will be key because he represents a succession plan for Andrew Bogut at the center position. He's not quite Bogut level yet, but Ezeli is a smart defender who uses his length to contest and operates soundly within defensive schemes. His defensive rebound numbers are a bit dampened, representing his tendency to throw his body and occupy would-be offensive rebounders while teammates corral the boards (although his numbers through the playoffs were stronger). Offensively, Ezeli's poor hands had been a hindrance dating all the way back to college, but he's made strides at improving something that normally does not get better, and emerged as a pick-and-roll threat able to catch on the move, gather and finish at the rim.
Brandon Rush
Position: Guard
Experience: 7 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Spot-up 3-point shooter
+ Has not recovered well from knee injury three seasons ago
Analysis
Once a respected versatile wing defender, Rush has regressed to being a good bench and locker-room guy. A torn ACL suffered a few years ago robbed Rush of his ability to stay in front of opponents as well as the lift on his jumper. He played sporadically in mostly garbage time last season, and truth be told, if it weren't for his guaranteed contract and the Warriors' status as a taxpaying team, he'd probably be released.
Kevon Looney
Position: Forward
Experience: Rookie
2015 draft profile
Scouting report
+ Warriors' 2015 first-round pick
+ Pick-and-pop big; very good rebounder
+ Expected to miss most of the season recovering from hip surgery
Analysis
Looney had a solid freshman season, posting near double-double numbers and shooting almost 42 percent from 3-point range. He's not a great athlete but he definitely excelled on offensive rebounds, grabbing more than 12 percent of available offensive rebounds and scoring almost 1.3 points per possession on putbacks, according to Synergy. Missing the next four to six months recovering from hip surgery coupled with the strength of the roster means he won't likely see much time on the floor. But Looney represents a project piece that can be developed to fulfill a roster need the Warriors still have: a true pick-and-pop 3-point threat.
James Michael McAdoo
Position: Forward
Experience: 1 year
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Athletic combo forward who can attack off the dribble or finish in pick-and-roll
+Midseason call-up from NBADL affiliate Santa Cruz
Analysis
McAdoo benefited from playing for the Warriors' D-League affiliate, making the transition to the parent club much smoother given the familiarity with the playbook and terminology. He pulled off the rare double dip, winning a D-League and NBA championship in the same season, although he played sparingly for Golden State. Most of McAdoo's game has been an exploitation of his energy and athleticism, as he's been a designated roll man and weakside cutter from the short corners. He's one of the few over-the-top athletes Golden State has in the frontcourt, but his contract is guaranteed for only $100,000 until the January guarantee date.
Ben Gordon
Position: Guard
Experience: 11 years
2015-16 projections
Scouting report
+ Undersized scoring guard
+ Very good 3-point shooter; uses off-ball screens well
+ Has struggled to find a home since leaving Pistons
Analysis
After a promising start to his career as a big-time scorer in Chicago, Gordon's career has fallen off track. Despite landing a big deal with Detroit six years ago, he's struggled to regain the status he enjoyed as a Bull. Last season, he signed with the Magic for a two-year deal with a team option that was ultimately declined after Gordon again appeared to wear out his welcome. The Warriors are the best team he'll have been with since leaving Chicago, and he definitely brings a skill they need as another spacer in their offense. But the question is whether he'll be OK playing sporadic minutes after being chained to the bench in his past two stops. His contract features roughly a 50 percent guarantee if he makes the opening night roster.