It’s been over 48 hours since the Golden State Warriors won their second title in three seasons. The Warriors will be having a parade on Thursday, allowing the Bay Area to celebrate with the Dubs and the Larry O’Brien trophy.
After an entire year of reminders of the debacle in the NBA Finals in 2016, this title puts an end to all that and once again reminds the rest of the league that the Warriors are the best team in the NBA. The best part is realizing that this team will have an opportunity to become a dynasty. They already have two on their belt, why not a couple more?
It’s safe to say that there is nothing you can say to a fan of the Warriors right now that would upset them. However, according to Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated, the Warriors will lose Jerry West to the division rival Clippers:
In a few weeks West will become a special consultant (exact title to be determined) for the Los Angeles Clippers, more or less the role he had played with the Warriors for six years, which included two championships. West had been in touch with the Clippers, particularly owner Steve Ballmer, over the last couple of months after it started to become evident that he and the Warriors were ending a relationship that had begun in 2011.
Sources say that a strain had developed between West and the ownership group, which is headed by hedge-fund legend Joe Lacob and Hollywood heavyweight Peter Guber. But West said he would not address those reports. One thing is clear: It was his decision to leave.
Bob Myers is the architect of Warriors, but Jerry West had huge influence on this organization. Remember when the Warriors almost traded Klay Thompson for Kevin Love? Aren’t you glad that didn’t happen? Well, Jerry West was on of the main reasons the Warriors kept Thompson. West was vocal about his admiration of the Splash Brother, so the Warriors passed and it turns out it was a great decision.
Now, West will be consulting the Clippers, the once upon a time rival of the Warriors. The Clippers have some tough decisions to make this summer and now they will have The Logo to decided the fate of this roster. The Warriors will be fine without West, but he will be missed.