The Golden State Warriors were the last team to repeat as NBA champions. In 2017 and 2018, they won in back-to-back years as part of their dynastic run.
Now, after missing the playoffs this season, the Warriors find themselves at a crossroads and Steve Kerr’s future is up in the air. However, one NBA analyst proposed a wild super-team idea that would keep Golden State’s championship window open and completely alter the league’s landscape.
Bill Simmons Urges Warriors to Build Another Star-Studded Super-Team
On a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Bill Simmons was joined by Zach Lowe and he shared his idea for a new Warriors super-team. Simmons wants to see LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson join Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in Golden State to form one of the most loaded teams in professional sports history.
“I am all in on LeBron going to Golden State next year. Can I have Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson join him? Let’s go full ‘Expendables,’ and Golden State ends up with LeBron, Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Al Horford. Let’s f**king go… USA Dream Team! Even I would be rooting for this team,” Simmons said with a smile.
“First of all, every game they play [would be a] sellout. Couldn’t be harder to get tickets. Half the fans [would be] rooting for the Warriors wherever they go. Steve Kerr comes back now. Two more years for him, and we’re off. We’re ready to go.”
Golden State already has the oldest roster in the league, with an average age of 28.8 years old. That average would be even higher with Durant, James, and Thompson added into the mix. The Warriors’ front office would have to jump through an absurd number of hurdles to put this squad together.
James enters unrestricted free agency this summer, and retirement might be on the table. If the 41-year-old plays another campaign, he has proven that he’s still winning the battle against Father Time. This only works if James is willing to join Golden State on a bargain contract, as the Warriors already have $182,837,620 on their books for next season. However, the future Hall of Famer has expressed interest in playing alongside Curry.
The Warriors would have to trade for Durant, who is under contract for next season at $43,902,439 followed by a $46,097,561 player option in 2027-28. Houston would likely need to take back Jimmy Butler III to make the salaries match, and then they’d also land young players and picks.
Lowe pointed out that Golden State tried to trade for Durant two seasons ago, but the future Hall of Famer was not interested. Simmons thinks the 16-time All-Star may regret this decision.
“[Durant] should’ve gone,” Simmons said. “Maybe his mistake was he should’ve done it.”
Thompson is under contract with the Dallas Mavericks for $17.5 million next season. A reunion with Curry and Green is certainly possible, as Dallas shifts toward a rebuild around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Thompson came off the bench in Dallas this season, and the Warriors would not need to give up much draft capital to acquire the five-time All-Star.
This is certainly a wild scenario, but Simmons is right about one thing: it would be a ton of fun to watch Curry, James, Durant, Green, and Thompson try to go out on top and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy one more time before retiring.
