"They basically got the OKC Thunder on the back of that bench" - Chris Mannix on Golden State Warriors' future and what their ceiling could be

The Golden State Warriors, who appeared in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years, look set to start another dynasty. General manager Bob Myers has done an impeccable job of constructing a team that’s built to sustain its success.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Chris Mannix appeared on the Dan Patrick Show to point out that the Warriors will remain title contenders in the next few years.

“It [Warriors title window] could be like 7 years. If you look at what they have on that roster, they basically got the OKC Thunder on the back of that bench. You’ve got two teenagers who are lottery picks in Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, who hasn’t played in a year."

He added:

"Those three players would make up the core of a rebuilding team, a rebuilding team that would be thrilled to have all three of them.”

The Warriors captured their fourth title in eight years without James Wiseman, the second overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft. Wiseman showed incredible promise in his rookie year and will be a valuable asset to the Bay Area team once he’s healthy.

Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, the seventh and 14 overall picks in last year’s draft were used sparingly by head coach Steve Kerr this past season. They’re bound to get better after a season with the NBA champions.

Two of the Warriors’ biggest contributors to their title run haven’t even reached their peak yet. Andrew Wiggins is 27 while Jordan Poole is 22.

Mannix feels that if the Warriors' roster develops as expected, they will remain at the top of the pyramid for several years.

“Kuminga, Moody, Wiseman, if they develop next year, if Wiseman can get back on the court, this window is like 5+ years because those guys, theoretically, should be that good to be able to supplement that roster.”

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The Golden State Warriors have an excellent player development staff

The Dubs have one of the best player development programs in the entire NBA. [Photo: Golden State of Mind]

Andrew Wiggins was considered a bust when he was playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. After a couple of seasons with the Golden State Warriors, he’s developed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA. His defense against Jayson Tatum in the NBA Finals was one of the main reasons for the Warriors' success.

Jordan Poole, considered by some basketball analysts to be the worst pick in the 2019 draft, is already playing like the third Splash Brother. He was a late first-round pick and spent most of his first season in the G-League. Poole was arguably the Golden State Warriors’ best player in the series versus the Denver Nuggets.

Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and James Wiseman are high-end talents that will only benefit from the Golden State Warriors’ incredible player development program.