After deciding not to match Patrick McCaw‘s offer sheet with the Cavaliers, Warriors general manager Bob Myers spoke to reporters today about his team’s decision, citing Alfonzo McKinnie‘s play and roster flexibility as the primary reasons to let McCaw walk. As Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group tweets, Myers also mentioned the luxury tax implications, but suggested that wasn’t the primary factor.
According to Medina (Twitter link), Myers wished McCaw well and indicated that Golden State would have been happy to welcome him back. The Warriors’ GM still isn’t sure exactly why McCaw wanted to leave the club, tweets Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. “I honestly don’t know,” Myers said. “It’s all speculation.”
With that 15th roster spot still open and Damian Jones sidelined, the Warriors are monitoring opportunities to add another center to the mix, Myers confirmed (Twitter link via Anthony Slater of The Athletic). However, nothing is imminent, and the GM sounds prepared to wait until closer to the trade deadline – or buyout season – to acquire another big man, according to Slater (Twitter link).
“I wish we could borrow some centers from last year,” Myers joked, referring to a 2017/18 roster that included David West, JaVale McGee, and Zaza Pachulia (Twitter link via Medina).
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Myers was reluctant to discuss a specific timeline when asked about DeMarcus Cousins‘ return, but he was positive about the big man’s recovery process. “I think we’re nearing the finish line,” Myers said, per Friedell (Twitter link).
- It sounds like Alfonzo McKinnie probably doesn’t have to be worried about being waived at the contract guarantee deadline next Monday. Myers said today that the Warriors’ players, coaches, and front office all want to keep the young forward around (Twitter link via Slater).
- Before the Warriors officially made their decision on Patrick McCaw, Medina spoke to a handful of the youngster’s now-former teammates about the prospect of welcoming him back into the locker room. “It would be an adjustment just because he hadn’t been playing with us and we have a new roster and a couple of new guys,” Kevon Looney said. “But I think most of us would take him back with open arms.” Within the same story, Medina notes that owner Joe Lacob remains “dumbfounded” and “befuddled” about how McCaw’s free agency played out.
- Andre Iguodala was fined $25K by the NBA for throwing the game ball into the crowd at halftime in Portland on Saturday, the league announced today in a press release.
McKinney has been great. Uncanny rebounder and fearless shooter…
Some people seem to know where the ball will rebound to… I used to hate it when a guard would fly in and grab a rebound because they could see the whole shot transpiring, while I was twisting around trying to follow the ball and struggling with someone. But it’s possible to have the knack for setting up where it’s coming down.
Well we know they wont get a center via trade. The last trade I can find involving players was July 2015.
They are probably waiting for Robin Lopez and Zach Randolph to get BO.
If they didn’t want McCaw why didn’t they just waive or renounce him (whatever the correct term is) in the first place? That entire saga seemed to be all about pettiness and control, on both sides.
They did want him back, the had offered him several options. It wouldn’t make sense for them just to renounce him when there was little interest in him around the league and you could possibly bring him back on the cheap
Seems to me a bit negligent of the GSW GM Bob Myers, saying that he doesn’t know why McCaw wanted to leave the team… did he even ask him, did he even call him, could have gone for a couple of pints & say Pat what’s up, dude? Why you wanna go? Doesn’t seem that difficult, right? Lack of communication from management towards employees/players is always absolutely inexcusable, this is their job to speak & make sure everyone is on board & happy with what’s going on… SMH
Or maybe they reached out to him but McCaw refused to respond, like when they invited him to the ring ceremony but he declined.
When there’s contract negotiations going on, typically the player wants to speak through his agent. It’s a legal thing.