The Warriors' dynasty is no longer.
After a five year run atop the Western Conference, a ton of key contributors to Golden State's reign will play for different teams for the 2019-20 season.
Kevin Durant is on the Nets.
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SIGN UP HERE Klay Thompson is recovering from a torn left ACL.
Andre Iguodala is on the Grizzlies (but not for long).
DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook are on the Lakers.
Shaun Livingston is a free agent after being waived.
Golden State Warriors
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Due to all of these moves and the addition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, the Warriors are no longer the betting favorites. Many other teams can call themselves legitimate title contenders.
As NBC NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh writes:
According to Westgate SuperBook’s latest odds, a whopping eight teams will be in that elite circle. The Clippers, Bucks, Lakers, Sixers, Warriors, Rockets, Jazz and Nuggets each have better than 20-1 (roughly five percent) odds to win the title, with the Celtics and Blazers just on the outside looking in.
“It is as open as we’ve seen in years,” said Jeff Sherman, Westgate SuperBook’s oddsmaker. “With the current landscape, we are receiving interest throughout the league.”
That wasn’t the case in recent years. During the Warriors’ reign, Sherman says their sportsbook received “minimal interest” in the next tier of teams. Not anymore. So far, the most money coming in has been on, duh, the Lakers and Clippers, with the Lakers ranking No. 1 in ticket count and total money wagered, according to Sherman. But the oddsmaker says they’re seeing solid support for about a half-dozen other teams, a rarity in the superteam era.
[RELATED: Report: Durant demanded Warriors give Nets first-round pick]
Meanwhile, some people think the Warriors will either struggle to make the playoffs or miss the postseason altogether.
If Golden State somehow reaches the NBA Finals for the sixth straight season, it would be more impressive than winning back-to-back championships.