Nearly a month through the NBA season and the Golden State Warriors have certainly left their mark, proving one of the biggest surprises in the league despite Monday's 102-99 loss to the L.A. Clippers.
The Warriors have utilized much of their deep roster, with Steve Kerr often going to an 11 or 12-man rotation that's also allowed them to cover a number of injuries they've encountered early in the season.
Re-Grading the Warriors offseason
Thanks to a mixture of good management and perhaps some good fortune, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office are earning praise for how they've built this roster. In late August we graded each move that was made during the offseason, so let's have a look at how things have changed during the first month of the season.
Trade for Lindy Waters III
The first and perhaps most underrated move of the offseason, Golden State essentially just acquired Lindy Waters III from the Oklahoma City Thunder
Waters was always seen as a potentially valuable acquisition, but his impact has been better than expected. He hit a game-winning buzzer beater in the first preseason game against the L.A. Clippers, with his best performance coming when he was arguably the Warriors' best player in a 21-point outing against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 27-year-old has started the last two games, and while he may still be out of a fully healthy Golden State rotation, he would be a runaway winner for 13th man of the year if such an award existed.
Previous Grade: B
New Grade: A
Drafted Quinten Post
The Warriors bought back the 52nd overall pick they gave up for Waters and drafted Boston College big man Quinten Post. With a combination of seven-foot size and perimeter shooting ability, Post remains an intriguing talent on the Golden State roster.
What we saw in preseason though was someone who appeared a while away from being a legitimate rotation player, even despite the fact Post is already 24-years-old. He is averaging a double-double in three G League games, putting up 18 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists but shooting just 40% from the floor and 19% from three-point range.
It's hard to have too many expectations on a young, two-way contracted rookie, but Post's preseason form was perhaps a little disappointing.
Previous Grade: B
New Grade: B-
Signed Reece Beekman to two-way contract
The Warriors quickly signed Reece Beekman to a two-way contract after he went undrafted in June. There was some disappointment among fans that he was held on the roster ahead of Daeqwon Plowden, particularly after he was injured and didn't show a lot during Summer League.
However, the young guard has impressed through the first two G Leage games, averaging 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. There's a long to go before Beekman is playing genuine rotation minutes for Golden State, yet there's some tools there to suggest they should persist.
Previous Grade: C-
New Grade: C+
Signed De'Anthony Melton in free agency
Injury was perhaps the only reason the Warriors were able to afford De'Anthony Melton in free agency, having signed the 26-year-old to a one-year, $12.8 million deal after playing just 38 games with the Philadelphia 76ers last season.
Unfortunately the injury issues have continued, with Melton now out with an ACL sprain after previously missing five games due to the back issue. Melton has impressed in the six games he has played, and looked like the long-term starter next to Stephen Curry in the back-court before his latest injury.
The downgrade here has nothing to do with Melton's playing ability, but simply his inability to stay on the floor so far this season.
Previous Grade: A
New Grade: B
Six-team sign-and-trade
After Klay Thompson signalled his intention to depart for the Dallas Mavericks, the Warriors quickly pivoted and were one of six teams involved in a sign-and-trade that brought Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson to the Bay.
