Where to now?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) season action for 2017-2018 came to an end at the weekend with the Golden State Warriors bagging the NBA title anew via a sweep of familiar foes Cleveland Cavaliers in their best-of-seven championship series.
With the victory, the Warriors has solidified its standing as the latest dynasty in The Association, having won three titles in the last four years, while for the Cavaliers, the 2016 champs, it is back to the drawing board after losing back-to-back in the finals to Golden State while also facing an uncertain future, particularly with regard to resident superstar LeBron James.
In the aftermath of the just-concluded finals, the question of “Where to now?” is being thrown the finals protagonists’ way.
This space throws its two cents’ worth on it.
Dominating as they have been, the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” should apply to the Warriors.
But then again, considering how they have been winning it all in a near-automatic fashion, the competition has only grown more determined to beat them and could only be expected to tweak their lineups to bring their desired result of stopping the juggernaut that is Golden State.
That being said, the Warriors have to be prepared to counter what is going to be further jacked-up challenge from opponents. Maybe by fine-tuning their own roster.
It does not necessarily mean its starting lineup of KD, Steph, Klay, Draymond, and plus one, although news of the Warriors eyeing NBA All-Star Anthony Davis from New Orleans makes one salivate for the upside of it.
Until that potential deal happens though, Golden State should make an effort to shore up its supporting cast through veteran free agents and the rookie draft to complement the play of its starters.
Andre Iguodala, Shawn Livingston, Jordan Bell, Kevon Looney, Javale McGee, Nick Young, and David West had their solid moments this season, but if the Warriors could improve its supporting cast some more the better given the bigger target it has on its back.
Over in Cleveland, a lot of speculation is swirling on where James would play come next season.
Some think “The King” would leave Cleveland and take his talent to either Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio, Boston, or Philadelphia.
For this space, I would prefer that James stay in his native Cleveland for what he means to that city and all he had helped build as far as the franchise is concerned.
Of course, management must give James reasons to stay, including the chance for him to continue winning.
It tried to surround him with the best talents available to the team this season, but said players proved to be a work progress all the way to the end and just could not give the support that James needed to get the better of the Warriors.
The Cavaliers has serviceable veteran and young talents in its fold and may want to assess them further, shed some unwanted components, and add new ones, possibly top-quality players, who could provide fresh push to its bid.
With the way the NBA Finals ended, the protagonists were left with things to weigh, albeit in varying degrees, and it is going to be interesting to see the directions they will take.
Where to now, Warriors and Cavaliers?
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@www.bworldonline.com