While the main focal point of this upcoming NBA offseason will center around the utter mayhem that is free agency and the landing spots of notable stars such as Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Kemba Walker (Anthony Davis saga aside), the Golden State Warriors will enter a summer of complete chaos and limbo. Faced with having to overcome the disappointment of missing out on the illusive three-peat, possibly losing one of the best players in the world in Kevin Durant (whether it be free agency or his ruptured achilles), and solving major roster problems, the Warriors are in for one hectic offseason. What looked to be an organization destined for years of dominance, now seems to be staring down major battles with the salary cap, injuries, and an entire league that is looking to ensure their destruction.

The Kevin Durant Situation

2019 NBA Finals - Game 5 Getty Images

Game five, one game before Kawhi put the Warriors to death, saw arguably the world's best player go down with a ruptured achilles, sidelining him for the entirety of the 2019/2020 season. To make matters worse, Kevin Durant is also slated to hit free agency this summer as his short-lived contract with Golden State is scheduled to run out. While this poses its fair share of problems for the future of #35's career, the Warriors are left wondering how to replace Durant's productivity and presence in their team for next year. Whether he permanently departs in search of greener pastures or opts into his player option and stays on with the team, will go a long way in determining what they are able to do in the offseason. If Durant returns for the guaranteed money (31.5M), the Warriors budget will continue to be severely limited, preventing them from making any sizeable additions or changes to the roster. In the more than likely case that Durant departs, Golden State will find themselves with a decent amount of money to take to the open market, even after renewing Klay Thompson's expiring contract.

As crazy as it may sound, the Warriors will be wishing that some other NBA franchise is open to offering Durant the max despite his major injury, taking him off of their hands and opening up the books with a decent amount of money to throw around in free agency. While they will be losing an elite level player who is currently in the prime of his career, it will open up some much needed space in the salary cap. Pack your bags KD, your time in the Bay Area has come to an end, for the best of all involved.

Klay Thompson's Injury and Team Health

NBA Finals - Game 6Newsday

Five straight years. The number of seasons the Golden State Warriors have continued playing basketball into the month of June. While this signifies a remarkable achievement for the organization and has resulted in three titles being brought back to Oakland, the amount of games played and compounding toll on player health has finally come to collect its debts. This year's Finals run would see players such as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Kevon Looney all go down with injuries of ranging severity, preventing this team from ever reaching full health during the playoffs and handicapping them even more against the formidable foe that was the Raptors. On top of these three injuries that were incurred during the playoffs, star big-man Demarcus Cousins also struggled to regain his former level of play throughout the year, resulting in a season to forget about despite his first career experience of postseason play. Not only did these injuries keep the team from achieving their three-peat of championships, it also projects as a serious negative factor going into next year as well with key player Klay Thompson looking to miss the majority of the 2019/2020 regular season (torn ACL). The Splash Brothers (nickname of the Golden State backcourt of Curry & Thompson) will sadly become only the Splash Brother heading into next season.

With so much being placed upon relatively the same roster over the past five years, it is hard to expect the same group of players to continuously stay together and fully healthy over such a long period of time. As Thompson will watch 2019/2020 from the sidelines, Durant more than likely to move on, and a tired and rundown group of players who are almost all projected to return, there may be a season in order with less expectations and a lighter forecast of results.

Roster Construction Going Forward

Golden State Warriors v Sacramento Kings 2018 NBAE/Getty Images

While quite the luxury, having a roster filled with five current or former All-Star players comes at a steep price with a fair share of drawbacks. 2018/2019's team consisted of so many star players it was hard to keep count, including Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thomspon, Kevin Durant, Demarcus Cousins, and Andre Iguodala. Keeping so many highly touted players on the roster going forward will be next to impossible for this organization as some key decisions will need to be made, whether that be voluntarily or not. In all likelihood, this offseason will see Kevin Durant walk (reportedly eyeing New York), Klay Thompson resigned for a healthy amount of money, and Demarcus Cousins moving on to a new team, remedying most of the team's more pressing and sizeable roster issues. Outside of their top-tier talent however, Golden State does not have much to work with in terms of money or talent currently on the team. While it is extremely enjoyable to keep so many elite level players in one locker room, it does severely limit salary cap room used for the rest of the roster. The 2019 Playoffs and accompanying team injuries would shine a light on this lack of squad depth as the Warriors were completely exposed once one or two of their top guys went down. To avoid summarizing the entirety of the team's postseason and making a long story short, anytime you are relying upon Alfonzo McKinnie and Jonas Jerebko to pick up valuable and crucial playoff minutes, you are in big trouble.

Going into this year's offseason, Golden State will have some money to actually throw around and work with, even after re-upping with the injured Thompson. Improving the quality of players in the rotation around the seven, eight, and nine spots will be crucial if they want to have any chance of sustaining their current habit of playing basketball all the way into June.

Reminder of Past Success

2015 NBA Finals - Game Six NBAE/Getty Images

Kevin Durant's tenure in Oakland and the past couple of years for the Warriors have been nothing short of exceptional, yes. However, let us not forget that when they were without Durant, whether predating his time in The Bay or even this season, the Warriors were still at the top of the NBA with Steph Curry at the helm. Believe it or not there was a time when this team won a title and record number of regular season games without the help of the former Thunder forward. Yes, Durant's departure will surely impact the way this team operates, but it will not be an area in which this roster's core is not accustomed to. The Splash Brother dynamic existed before Durant's arrival. Curry posted one of the most impressive statistical seasons in NBA history in 2015/2016, predating the arrival of his soon to be former teammate hailing from D.C. One championship. 73-9. And numerous other records and achievements. The Golden State Warriors that dominated the league have a possibility to return to existence coming into the 2019/2020 season and beyond, even after the departure of one of the world's best in Kevin Durant this summer.

No KD? No problem..probably. Golden State has existed and played without Kevin Durant before. Whether it be pre-2016 or this season, this organization has proven its ability to remain on top of the league without the added assistance of Kevin Durant.

End of an Era?

NBA Finals - Game 6Raptors HQ

Is this the end of good times in the Bay Area? New stadium, declining team? Could the Golden State dynasty truly be coming to an end?

To keep it short, Golden State's domination of the NBA may be in store for a short recess heading into the 2019/2020 season.

With the departures of Kevin Durant and Demarcus Cousins, this team has to find and regain its identity from the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the identity that revolutionized the game and began the league-wide race for space, off-ball movement, team passing, and three point shooting. After five straight years of postseason basketball spanning all the way into the month of June, this organization is also run down and tired, due for a break to regain health and drive for success. Additionally, this roster is lacking meaningful depth and reliability further down the lineup. Golden State is in desperate need of a slight roster overhaul to help backup its star players. Jonas Jerebko and Alfonso McKinnie are not getting the job done up against an entire league that is in a constant race to catch up to them.

At the end of the day however, Golden State still has the ability to tout a starting five that includes Draymond Green, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, a big three that reigns supreme on the rest of the league in terms of established chemistry and proven effectiveness. The Warriors were able to win a title and put up a record seventy-three wins in the regular season before this current team construction and run, a more than great sign that they will still be able to win basketball games going forward, 2019 and beyond. A return to the 2014 & 2015 style of play will do this organization an immense amount of favors and enable them to reestablish a team centric style of play again. On top of a return to old ways, Golden State should also be looking to bolster depth, regain team health, and take a short breather after one of the most dominant runs in league history.

Golden State may not be playing June basketball in 2020, but they will not be gone from the top of the league for very long.

written and edited by Jack Kurtz