Three months after 2018’s free agent period opened, Warriors shooting guard Patrick McCaw remains unsigned, having let his qualifying offer deadline pass this week without accepting that QO. In an in-depth look at McCaw’s situation, Anthony Slater of The Athletic attempts to make sense of what the restricted free agent is thinking.
According to Slater, McCaw’s representatives have urged him to take one of two options — either accept his $1.71MM qualifying offer or sign a two-year offer from the Warriors that included a $2MM+ starting salary and a non-guaranteed second year. However, the 22-year-old didn’t sign his QO prior to Monday’s deadline and has thus far been unwilling to accept Golden State’s multiyear offer.
While McCaw’s stance is a surprising one, the former UNLV standout appears to be prioritizing opportunity as much as – or more than – his 2018/19 earnings. If he remains with the Warriors, McCaw would have “limited playmaking responsibility and no guaranteed nightly role,” writes Slater.
Sources suggest to Slater that both McCaw and his father Jeff believe that a “more expansive” role would be in the youngster’s best long-term interests as he looks to develop his game and increase his value in advance of his next free agency.
At this point in the fall, most teams around the NBA are fairly set in terms of their 14- or 15-man rosters for the coming season, so it’s not clear if any clubs are willing to make a play for McCaw as long as he remains restricted.
It will be interesting to see which side blinks first in the standoff between McCaw and the Warriors. If Golden State eventually decides that the contract dispute isn’t worth it, the club could pursue other free agent wings, with Jamal Crawford, Arron Afflalo, and Nick Young among those still on the market.
Buddy !!! Wake up.
You’ll get no contract if you have no game. You’ve shown diddly so far and the Warriors are still willing to work with you and Surround you with great prayers and excellent competition every day in practice.
The best way from Mccaw to become a better player and get a good contract is the sign with the Warriors this year.
He will get tons of playing time in the G league. He seems to like it down there anyway as he asked to be demoted to Santa Cruz last season. In his defense, Santa Cruz is a way better city than Oakland.
From someone who lives in Santa Cruz, no it isn’t. Santa Cruz has become a crap hole. The nice weather is no longer good enough to make up the difference.
McCaw definitely needs to just focus on getting into practice and getting better, because he certainly wasn’t able to show any improvement last season.
Last year, every single one of his statistics either stayed the same, or for the most part got worse, except his assists and steals, which only marginally improved..
Would he benefit from more playing time?? Of course, who wouldn’t, but if he’s serious about earning a major role somewhere, then he will sign a deal, work his tail off in practice again’t some of the game’s best, and then showcase his talent, and make the most out of each and every opportunity.
He’s marginally above average on defense, as a SG, but unless he improves his 3-point shooting, mod-range game, and even his ability to drive to and finish around the rim, there isn’t a team in existence that’s going to give him any significant playing time.
When you are a SG, that can’t shoot, you better be a premiere, top tier defender, and McCaw isn’t that either. Enough financial negotiating, and get into practice wit your teammates, GET BETTER!! Then, the money you so desperately want, it will come..
He got worse though, last year, in this arrangement, so he’s a good candidate for moving on. He’s a good prospect, worth grabbing. If GSW matches oh well, nothing lost.
That GSW is putting up with this is kind of an endorsement!
This guy is getting a whole lot of press. What a clown, take the money and work on your game, if you want a better contract next go around.
Crawford doesn’t have any offers yet, but the Celtics and Warriors would take him. Crawford would play. McCaw and Jabari Bird won’t.
Probly sucks going thru the warm-up line thinking, “Damn, him…him…and him make more money in 2 weeks than I make all season.”
Especially when he and his dad think he’s an All-Star.