Here’s the thing about destination franchises in professional sports …

They don’t raise white flags; they raise banners.

Such is the current state of the Golden State Warriors.

No team has been more successful in the last dozen seasons: Four championships and nearly two others.

Even the Kansas City Chiefs can’t match that.

Kudos to Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. But it doesn’t happen without the team’s willingness to blow the top off the salary cap with the additions of star players like Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant.

And that’s why owner Joe Lacob deserves the credit as much as anyone.

Lacob quickly became the face of a new Warriors ownership group in 2010, inheriting a mess. Soon, the franchise had the best coach (Kerr), the best general manager (Bob Myers) and the best arena.

Not coincidentally, he also then had the best team, the best fans and the best extended period of NBA success since Michael Jordan.

He had created, remarkably, a destination franchise even more attractive than Boston and Los Angeles.

Alas, Myers, Durant, Thompson and Iguodala are gone. Kerr, Curry and Green have one foot out the door. And it sure appears Jimmy Butler III, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are being pushed in the same direction.

So is this, as some are forecasting, the Warriors’ last stand?

The answer is best stated in the form of its own question:

What is it about Lacob that you don’t understand?

First off, nothing about what has transpired this off-season indicates the upcoming Warriors season is more important than any other.

Did they trade their lottery pick for a win-now veteran? No.

Did they go all-in, mortgaging their future, in an effort to attract Giannis, LeBron or Jaylen Brown? No.

Did they let Green or Porzingis walk in order to redirect funds toward a more versatile roster? No.

In fact, by creating a shockingly realistic scenario in which ALL their big-money players are no longer around next season, they’ve set themselves up to make one of the boldest moves in NBA history.

They could, in essence, become an expansion team next season.

How brilliant would that be?

Think about that …

You start with an old, crippled team filled with posterboys for load management that almost surely will be back in the lottery next summer. That gets you your Thompson with the 2027 lottery pick after having added your Curry (summer-league MVP Yaxel Lendeborg) with your 2026 top choice.

They in turn lead you to a Sacramento Kings-level 2028 season, much like Curry and Thompson did in 2012.

Then you take your wheelbarrow full of cash and throw it at 2028’s top free agents, which at this point are projected to be Giannis and Nikola Jokic. There’s your new Iguodala and Durant.

And we haven’t even mentioned Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, the No. 1 pick in the 2028 draft you’ve worked so hard to earn. There’s the cherry on top.

If there’s any doubt Lacob could pull this off, you need look no farther than that other Golden State team he owns – the Valkyries.

They started with nothing more than the best owner in the league, the best arena in the league and the best city in the league in which to live.

Less than two years later, the Valkyries are arguably the best team in the WNBA, having been “light years ahead” of the competition in terms of luring international talent.

If Boumtje-Boumtje needs recruiting, Lacob knows half a dozen women who speak his language.

Never underestimate what smarts, money and a little sun can buy.

The Warriors’ last stand? Destination franchises don’t run out of ammunition; they drop a bomb on you.

Bron Breakker and Sol Ruca were the first WWE stars to qualify for Money in the Bank ladder matchers. Breakker topped Rey Mysterio and Ethan Page to advance, while Ruca defeated Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri to earn her spot.

Two other qualifying matches were announced for next week’s RAW. Je’Von Evans faces Big Cass and Austin Theory. Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez battles NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan and a debuting Lola Vice in another triple threat.

SmackDown will have its own qualifiers. WWE used to book at least two major title matches at Money in the Bank to tease the possibility of a same-night cash-in.

The 2025 PLE, however, bucked that trend. It killed the anticipation of a new champion walking out of the event. Damian Priest was the last major titleholder to defend a title on the same night as the PLE, doing so in 2024.

Several contests could be booked for New Orleans. Here are full-card match predictions for the 2026 edition of Money in the Bank.

#5. The Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Ruca’s spot in the annual ladder match was never really in question. WWE officials have pushed her to the moon in 2026. She won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship within her first two months on RAW.

Five other women will join Ruca in the ladder match. Lola Vice seems like the pick for next week’s triple threat. Rodriguez shouldn’t be in it since she’s currently a champion. Kelani Jordan is part of NXT.

Roxanne Perez should be in the match to tease dissension in the Judgment Day, but will probably be left out. The last RAW spot should go to IYO SKY. Putting Blake Monroe in the match makes some sense, but three other women will make it from SmackDown.

PREDICTIONS: Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jade Cargill, IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair, and Lash Legend.

#4. The Bloodline vs. Royce Keys and OTM

WWE is heading for a six-man melee between the Bloodline and Royce Keys’ squad. Jacob Fatu knows how Keys operates, but he won’t be able to keep the Usos quiet for too long.

Burning a car was supposed to be a huge deal, but they’ll just get another one. Instead of having two or three major title matches at Money in the Bank, WWE has opted for featured tag team contests over the last two years.

The first official clash between the two sides should be at a big PLE, and Money in the Bank is the next big PLE on the schedule. Fatu and the Usos will clash with Keys, Lucien Price, and Bronco Nima.

#3. Stephanie Vaquer and Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez

To feature other women at Money in the Bank, WWE is likely to book three of RAW’s biggest stars in the same match. Rodriguez shouldn’t qualify next week, but has been a thorn in Vaquer’s side for almost a year.

Big Mami and Perez helped Liv Morgan retain the Women’s World Championship. La Primera has been hesitant about trusting Becky Lynch, but may finally come around after getting cheated out of a victory.

A tag team match between the two sides would be perfect for Money in the Bank. Morgan wouldn’t be defending her title but would be fair game if she’s booked on the card. Booking this match would also take two heavy favorites out of the huge ladder match.

#2. The Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Who will join Bron Breakker in the 2026 Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match? Several names make sense but will be left out due to current feuds. Evans will win next week’s qualifier. Austin Theory is in the match to eat the pin.

Big Cass is big and dangerous, but officials are high on Evans. Dominik Mysterio will join Breakker and Evans. SmackDown has a few names that make sense. Gunther and Finn Balor aren’t beating CM Punk for the WWE Championship.

Kevin Owens has a chance, but seems like the perfect choice to be this year’s Mr. Money in the Bank. Ricky Saints is from New Orleans, but he hasn’t been much of a priority lately.

PREDICTIONS: Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Dominik Mysterio, Kevin Owens, Gunther, Finn Balor

#1. WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. LA Knight

Roman Reigns has ducked LA Knight for months. He claims The Megastar should win a tournament, but then helped craft a tournament that Knight couldn’t enter.

The Tribal Chief will defeat Penta in Mexico City before taking off for another week. Before he does, however, LA Knight should confront or attack Reigns. WWE can only ignore the crowd’s cheers for so long.

They claim to listen to the fans but refuse to crown Knight. He’s had a few major title shots but fell in each one. While he probably won’t defeat Roman Reigns, WWE should book the inevitable showdown at Money in the Bank.