Many NBA teams are deathly afraid of paying the luxury tax, but Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob says that Golden State has no fear in that regard. The Warriors have more than $77.5MM in salary committed to just eight players for next season, and that doesn’t include a new deal for soon-to-be restricted free agent Draymond Green. Still, Lacob & Co. are apparently willing to pay the price if it means being in championship contention. Here’s more from the Pacific Division..
- The Clippers would like to acquire a wing player with more size, but they discovered when they came up empty in their pursuit of Jeff Green that they don’t have trade assets that other teams find attractive enough to part with such a player, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes. The Spencer Hawes signing for the full $5.305MM mid-level exception helped drain the team of assets and flexibility, as Lowe explains, adding that most league executives nonetheless praised the Hawes signing when it took place.
- Despite the pull of a Charlotte homecoming, Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News believes that Stephen Curry will want to stay with the Warriors for the long term. You never know what can happen between now and the summer of 2017, but Curry seems comfortable in Golden State despite having a new coach and the Warriors are showing that they can win this season.
- Shaun Powell of NBA.com wonders if new owner Steve Ballmer is disappointed with what he’s seen out of the Clippers so far. As an executive, many have wondered if Doc Rivers has been making wise choices. His only meaningful addition has been Hawes, a jump-shooting big man who hasn’t connected all that often this season. Meanwhile, Rivers dealt for son Austin Rivers to help fortify a bench that is thin beyond Jamal Crawford and it remains to be seen whether that will get the job done.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.