The idea of Stephen Curry and LeBron James pairing up for an entire NBA season with the Golden State Warriors was fun to think about for a few weeks. But now that James has decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers and the pairing isn’t going to happen, the Warriors have to move forward.James had the NBA world holding its breath for much of July as the 41-year-old entered free agency and weighed options that included the Warriors, Cavaliers, 76ers, Timberwolves and Heat. Several, including Curry himself, made public pitches to try and lure James. While playing in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nev., the veteran point guard was asked what his recruiting pitch to James would be.“Do you want to play good basketball and be around people who know how to play the game?” Curry told reporters. “Raise our floor, competitiveness. … There’s good golf in the Bay. … We’re an organization that’s been there (winning championships). He knows that, and that’s really self-explanatory. It’s just a matter of where he sees himself fitting. And at the end of the day, that’s up to him.”The reality that many Warriors fans need to accept is that, even with James in the fold, this group wasn’t going to be good enough next season to compete for a title. Now that it’s official, the next biggest question GM Mike Dunleavy has to figure out is what happens with Draymond Green.Top 5 LeBron Lakers MomentsGreen, who opted out of his nearly $28 million player option to become a free agent, struggled to find consistency throughout much of last season, especially on the offensive end. At 36, it’s tough to imagine a scenario where he’s able to improve upon the 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists he averaged over 68 games last season.He has moments where he shows the defensive fire that has helped define his career, and like Curry, he is one of the core pieces of the Warriors dynasty. What Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob have to decide is how much — and how many years — they’re willing to give Green given what he displayed last year. Do they give him a contract based on his past contributions and what he’s meant to the organization or his current value in the marketplace?
With LeBron James opting for 76ers, Warriors’ focus turns to Draymond Green, development
The reality is, even with James in the fold, this group wasn't going to be good enough next season to compete for a title.













