The Warriors have won four championships with their current core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The first championship they won was in 2015, then two more came in consecutive seasons when Golden State ran a ‘Death Lineup’ of Curry, Thompson, Green, Kevin Durant, and Andre Iguodala. They also reinvented it and dominated during their win in the 2021-22 season.
Draymond Green has declined his player option and has become a free agent. And while they might re-sign him still, they can build a similarly terrifying small-ball lineup without him. If they trade Draymond for depth, here’s a look at the stacked starting five they could field as a small-ball unit:
Guard: Chris Paul
Guard: Stephen Curry
Guard: Klay Thompon
Forward: Andrew Wiggins
Center: Kevon Looney
A three-guard lineup is far from conventional, but this might work in a small-ball system. Chris Paul could be the point guard and floor general, finding the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on the perimeter. Curry is arguably the greatest off-ball player in the NBA and could be a pure menace in this revamped starting five.
The backcourt would lack a little defense, but Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Kevon Looney are all serviceable to good defenders. They could take on the tough assignments, and the team could just outwork and outrun their opponents in stretches. There is also another key benefit to this lineup.
Chris Paul Could Unlock Kevon Looney
Kevon Looney has made himself known as a high-effort, if a small big man. While he isn’t much of a shooter, he can set big screens and create havoc at the rim. No point guard in the NBA might be as suitable for Looney as Chris Paul is.
The Point God has unlocked many centers in the past, with David West, DeAndre Jordan, Clint Capela, and Deandre Ayton all thriving after CP3 joined the team. He could provide Looney with some incredible lobs and easy finishes that would take him to another level offensively. Jordan became a 10-point-per-game scorer after CP3 joined, and Clint Capela averaged 2.8 points more per game with Paul than he has in his career. This is a good sign for Looney.
Chris Paul would also have the cutting Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins as options on plays, while Curry and Klay are almost always money on the perimeter as well. While the lineup wouldn’t be the greatest at rebounding, they could very much destroy their opponents without giving them a chance.
Will Draymond Green Return To The Golden State Warriors?
Draymond Green has been the beating heart of the Golden State Warriors for years, he is arguably the most irreplaceable piece on the team in terms of s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set. With Jordan Poole also departing, there are no off-court issues for the time being, either. And as per reports, both the Warriors and Green have a serious interest in keeping him in San Francisco.
They can choose to sign and trade Green to one of his many suitors across the league, but it might be better to keep him. While the team could run a solid lineup and offense without Draymond, having him at the center position while playing small ball would be the ideal outcome. Nobody plays that role as well as Green.
On the face of it, getting a 38-year-old Chris Paul doesn’t seem like a massive move, but if Thompson can get back to his defensive best, it could create a new ‘Death Lineup’ for the Warriors. Whether this takes place with or without Draymond Green is something only time will tell.
