The Golden State Warriors are the real winners of 2020

Few pundits expected the Golden State Warriors to contend for a championship in 2020 after the team parted ways with Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Shaun Livingston and dealt with a critical injury to Klay Thompson. But it wasn’t as though the cupboards were entirely bare.

The reigning Western Conference champs still had two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry, former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell, and a host of quality role players perfectly suited for the team’s space and pace ethos.

However, any reason for optimism quickly faded away after the Warriors lost their first two games by a combined 47 points. Adding injury to insult, Curry broke his left hand in the fourth game of the season, placing him on the sidelines for four months. During that time, Golden State went on three losing streaks of seven games and unloaded several of their top young players at the trade deadline.

Curry eventually returned on Mar. 5, but the league suspended operations six days later after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. It’s been that kind of season.

Despite the many injuries and setbacks, the Warriors have four very big reasons to feel good about the 2020-21 NBA season.

1. Klay Thompson’s return

Few players have benefitted more from the NBA’s forced hiatus than Klay Thompson, who has spent the entirety of the 2019-20 season rehabbing his torn ACL. The five-time All-Star and three-time champ isn’t ready to return just yet, but according to Warriors GM Bob Myers, his recovery is on schedule.

"As far as I’ve heard, he’s recovering fine," Myers recently told reporters. "There hasn’t been a setback. But one thing that’s been a little bit difficult in the last couple months is our ability to oversee those things as much as you might normally would."

2. Golden State’s draft position

The one upside of Warriors’ dismal 15-50 record is the fact the club now has a 14% chance of winning the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Golden State could shore up its frontline by selecting Memphis center James Wiseman, or it could add yet another perimeter threat by nabbing Georgia’s Anthony Edwards. Both players would set the club up well for the long haul.

The Warriors could also find more immediate help by flipping the pick for an established star. Players like John Collins, Kevin Love, and Jrue Holiday are allegedly all available, and would look spectacular in Steve Kerr’s share-the-wealth offense.

3. Eric Paschall’s development

29 teams passed on Eric Paschall in the 2019 NBA Draft, and we’re reasonably certain all 29 regret it. The second round pick made the most of injuries to Green and Kevon Looney by averaging 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 26 starts. His boundless energy and willingness to do the dirty work makes him the perfect compliment to Golden State’s stars.

4. Extra rest

Golden State’s run of five straight NBA Finals appearances was certainly exciting for fans, but it took a serious toll on the team’s players, as the Warriors played an additional 105 games during that span. That’s well over a full season, and it helps explain why so many Golden State players began breaking down physically late last year.

If the 2020-21 season begins in December, as expected, the Warriors will have the benefit of nine months of rest and recovery. That’s a tremendous luxury for players like Curry, Thompson, and Green, all of whom are now on the wrong side of 30.

Don't be surprised if there's a victory parade through the streets of San Francisco a year from now.

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