Add FiveThirtyEight to the list of projections that really don't like the Warriors this season.
FiveThirtyEight's prediction model has the Warriors going just 31-41 this season. Just how bad is that? The Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to be the only team worse than the Warriors in the Western Conference.
This model not only makes the Warriors the second-worst team in the Western Conference, behind teams like the Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves, it gives them the eighth-worst record in the entire NBA. After having the worst record in the shortened 2019-20 season, this, of course, is the last thing owner Joe Lacob and Co. want to see. They're in win-now mode, not in a rebuild after just having the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft.
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There could be a silver lining here, though. Bear with me.
In this case, the Warriors could have two lottery picks in what is expected to be a loaded draft class. They would keep both the T-Wolves' top-three protected pick they acquired in the D'Angelo Russell-Andrew Wiggins trade, and keep their own pick top-20 protected pick instead of sending it to the Thunder. Golden State could add two top talents in the draft less than from taking James Wiseman with its top pick.
If FiveThirtyEight's projection model turns out to be true, the Warriors could have a core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson (upon returning from his torn Achilles), Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Wiseman and two top picks in the 2021 draft. Or, they could use the two picks to try and acquire another star.
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Again, this isn't what the Warriors want this season. Far from it. But with most things, there usually is a hypothetical silver lining.
Even with a disaster like this.