3 possible ways in which Golden State Warriors can line up without Klay Thompson in the 2021-22 NBA season

The Golden State Warriors had their media day today and stressed their "patience" when it comes to the return of star wing Klay Thompson. Although basketball fans want to see Thompson back in NBA action as soon as possible, the Warriors aren't taking any chances this year. If you don't remember, Thompson suffered an ACL injury in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Following that injury, Thompson ended up suffering another season-ending injury during an offseason workout. So to say that the Golden State Warriors aren't going to rush Thompson back into action would be putting it lightly. GM Bob Myers reiterated that the Warriors will be as patient as possible with Klay Thompson returning to gameplay.

So What Does That Mean for the Golden State Warriors rotations?

Golden State Warriors Media Day

With Klay Thompson not "realistically" expected to return to the team until potentially January, it means that the Golden State Warriors are going to need to get creative with their rotations. One thing we know for sure is that any starting lineup for the Warriors will feature Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. If you look beyond those two, there could be a variety of players used in rotations. Head coach Steve Kerr is going to have some interesting options this year, and there's a chance he will experiment with a number of different lineups.

Having said that, let's take a look at three ways in which the Golden State Warriors could line up in the 2021-22 NBA season.

#3 The Youth Movement

Last year, the Golden State Warriors had a serious amount of youth on their roster alongside talents like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. GM Bob Myers put an emphasis on adding some veterans to their core this year. Although Myers did a great job with that, he also added some even more talented youthful pieces to the puzzle as well.

Jonathan Kuminga at Golden State Warriors Media Day

The hope is that last year's rookie big man James Wiseman will be poised for a sizeable leap forward in his second season. Wiseman was the second overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft, and Golden State is expecting him to make a bigger impact this year. The Warriors also added two extremely talented lottery selections this year in Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody. While some might expect the Warriors to bring the two young players along slowly, don't be surprised if Steve Kerr is eager to insert the two into the rotation earlier than expected. Both players offer intriguing skillsets that can help the Warriors in a big way early on.

#2 The Veterans

Golden State Warriors v New Orleans Pelicans

The Golden State Warriors front office knew the team lacked veterans heading into the offseason. After having a roster filled with a number of youth, the Warriors made it a goal to surround their young pieces with a variety of veterans. They went out and added some intriguing pieces. The first of those was Otto Porter Jr., who could become an intriguing "sleeper" with this Warriors team. After spending the last couple of years with a number of different teams, Otto Porter Jr. has the potential to become a fantastic complementary piece with his outside shooting and scoring ability.

The Warriors also brought back Andre Iguodala, who should be a fantastic addition, especially with his ability to help out the younger players on this team. Another name to keep an eye on is Nemanja Bjelica. For a team with a history of getting the best out of players, Bjelica has the potential to be a great big man asset off the bench with his outside shooting ability.

#1 The Offensive Firepower

Golden State Warriors v New Orleans Pelicans

This Warriors team will always be known for their offensive firepower, especially when Klay Thompson returns to the rotation. For now, the Warriors have some intriguing pieces that can continue to light up the scoring column when needed. Jordan Poole took some serious strides last year for the Warriors and looks to be developing into a solid offensive punch off the bench.

While many are thinking the Warriors aren't going to unleash Jonathan Kuminga early, his talent might be too intriguing to keep him on the bench for long. Still just 18-years-old, Kuminga will be one of the youngest players in the NBA, but you wouldn't think that from his build. At 6'8" 225 pounds, Kuminga has an NBA body that is ready to dish out contact whenever he's on the floor. After an impressive performance during Summer League, Kuminga could turn into a serious weapon off the bench for the Warriors with his two-way potential.

Golden State will still have Steph Curry at the heart of any lineup, which is always a great situation to have. Keep an eye on Andrew Wiggins as well, who started playing some of his best basketball with the Warriors last year.