NEW YORK _ One former Warrior sat several feet away, another prepared a move to South Beach and two teammates found out they would soon be on the move as forward Omari Spellman threw a tantrum on the team bench.
The fallout of the trade deadline undeniably dampened the mood of the Warriors during their 129-88 loss to the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
Minutes before tip-off, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III were pulled from the game as the team prepares to trade them before Thursday's noon (Pacific time) trade deadline. Without Burks and Robinson, the Warriors were without their second- and third-leading scorers and one of their most reliable defenders.
During the first half, Spellman needed to be calmed down by head coach Steve Kerr before checking back into the game as the Warriors fell into an early 23-point hole.
It was during the second quarter that it was announced that Andre Iguodala, the former Finals MVP who won three championships with Golden State, was traded from Memphis to Miami. Kevin Durant, who signed with the Nets last summer, sat on Brooklyn's bench. During the game, he didn't interact at all with these Warriors.
After all, the Warriors are a much different team since Durant and Iguodala left. While the likes of Draymond Green and Kevon Looney remain, Stephen Curry (left hand surgery) and Klay Thompson (left knee surgery) have been sidelined for most, if not all, of the season.
As trades were reported across the NBA Wednesday night, it reinforced just how much things have changed for Golden State this season.
During a lottery-bound season, Golden State has employed nine players aged 23 or younger. One of those players, point guard D'Angelo Russell, acquired in the sign-and-trade that sent Durant to the Nets, finished with 17 points on 7-for-20 shooting and three assists.
He didn't seem deterred by the rampant speculation that he, too, could be traded in the coming hours, as he was the only Warriors player to make a field goal until Green's layup with 4:15 left in the first quarter. By then, Golden State had already fallen behind by 14 points.
Without Burks and Robinson, the Warriors started rookie forward Eric Paschall (15 points on 6-for-16 shooting, five rebounds, two assists) and leaned on rookie guard Jordan Poole (16 points on 6-for-13 shooting, two rebounds, four assists) and second-year guard Jacob Evans III (eight points, four rebounds, four assists) off the bench.
The Nets were led by guard Caris LeVert, who finished with 23 points, four rebounds and eight assists, and guard Joe Harris' 17 points and nine rebounds.
By the time the Warriors play the Lakers at Chase Center on Saturday, the roster will look different. Burks and Robinson will be on new teams, and more changes could still be made by Thursday.
As the Warriors prioritize their future, the games don't matter as much during this rebuilding season, as underscored by Wednesday night.
