Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green backed Golden State’s veteran core to challenge again after its playoff exit.
The Warriors lost four straight games to Minnesota after Curry strained his hamstring during their only win of the series.
Curry left frustrated on the sideline
Curry scored 13 points in Game 1 before leaving in the second quarter and never returned.
He said watching the next four defeats was painful because there was nothing he could do to change the series.
Curry believed he likely would have been available for Game 6 had the Warriors extended the matchup.
Butler restores belief after February trade
Butler arrived from Miami at the trade deadline and helped Golden State produce the NBA’s best defence from his debut onward.
The Warriors then defeated Houston in seven games before injuries caught up with them against Minnesota.
Butler said he had rediscovered his enjoyment of basketball and felt comfortable with his new team.
Green says the hardest move is complete
Green argued that acquiring Butler was the biggest change the roster needed and that the difficult part of the rebuild had already been done.
Curry still wanted more size and shooting around the core. Kevon Looney’s free agency also left an important rotation decision unresolved.
The Warriors entered the summer with more clarity than a year earlier. Their remaining challenge was to strengthen the supporting cast without wasting the closing seasons of Curry and Green.
