The Golden State Warriors were very much in on the LeBron James sweepstakes. Even in his 40s, LeBron is still a game-changer capable of raising anyone's ceiling. That's why his choosing the Philadelphia 76ers is a problem for them.
With James no longer an option, it is looking quite bleak for the Warriors. They can and likely will re-sign Draymond Green, but their core is simply not good enough for a title. It's even fair to say that they're not even close right now. Times like those make Al Horford choosing them over the Boston Celtics look worse.
Horford chose the Warriors (and re-signed with them) because they offered the chance to compete and more money. However, when it was all said and done, the Warriors' season finished even worse than the Celtics' despite adding Kristaps Porzingis.
It's not Horford's nor the Warriors' fault Jimmy Butler's ACL tear ruined everything for them, but they had to have known that depending on quality players getting up there in terms of mileage is walking a very thin tightrope. Horford has always gone where the money has taken him, but it is just a shame that he will likely finish his career on teams that ultimately do nothing.
In Boston, they might not be on the level they were when they won Banner 18, but Boston is inarguably in a much better spot than Golden State with far fewer long-term questions about what direction they will be going from here on out.
The West is still going to be unforgiving despite no LeBron
LeBron leaving the West will make it easier, but the Warriors will have no shortage of competition for a playoff and play-in spots. Everyone already knows about San Antonio and Oklahoma City, but teams like Minnesota, Houston, Denver, the Lakers, Phoenix, Portland, and Utah will all be right in the thick of it.
Without LeBron on the team, Golden State's likelihood of escaping a similar fate as they did this past season (eliminated in the play-in) is as close to zero as it gets. In fact, failing to make the play-in is now in play for them. Getting James would have likely required sacrificing their future (trading the farm for Anthony Davis), but with Stephen Curry's career winding down, there wasn't a better option out there for them.
In essence, they are wasting what's left of him, Horford, Green, and whoever else they have on their roster. Maybe the Celtics couldn't promise Horford another ring, but they could have put him on a more relevant team as his career winds down.
This hasn't been the disaster that Philadelphia was for Horford, but hey, at least that team made the playoffs!
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