Appearing on The TK Show with The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said he expects to open the 2022/23 season with just 14 players under contract, leaving one opening on the team’s 15-man roster. However, he left the door open for that to change.
“I think we’d like to stay at 14, barring somebody that just snatches it,” Myers said. “But we said the same thing last year. If you would’ve been doing this podcast with me last year at the same time, I would’ve said the same thing. And (Gary) Payton (II) came along and took that job and put us in a spot where he kind of forced our hand to add him to the roster. If somebody does that (we’d keep them) — you know (team owner) Joe (Lacob) as good as I do, he wants to win. But I don’t see that. I actually hope it doesn’t happen because it’s just another big chunk on top of a pretty big payroll.”
Addressing the Warriors’ record-setting payroll, Myers acknowledged that there are “constraints,” but he said he has never been given a specific line that he can’t cross and that those financial decisions are made on a situational basis.
Golden State’s long-term cap outlook will play a role in the team’s ability to lock up Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green, all of whom can reach free agency in 2023. Myers told Kawakami that he hopes the franchise can find a way to retain all three players long-term.
“We’ve had conversations with all three players (and) their representatives. I’m not going to get into the likelihood or not of any of them getting done, but we know how important they are. I don’t know that we win a championship last year if you take any of them away,” Myers said. “… Too early for me to say what will happen or won’t happen, but the goal is to keep those guys, all three of them, as long as we can. But again, there’s a financial component.”
Here’s more from the Warriors’ top basketball executive:
- The Warriors expect a decision from Andre Iguodala soon and are hoping that he decides to return to the team for at least one more year. “He’s one of the few people in the world who can look (Stephen) Curry or Draymond or Klay (Thompson) in the eye and meet them at their level, but also grab a Jordan Poole or (James) Wiseman or (Jonathan) Kuminga and speak to them and encourage them,” Myers told Kawakami. “There’s no one else in the league that can do that for our team. And we think he can still play and help us in certain spots. So we really want him back. This isn’t like a charity thing. It’s not, ‘Oh, you know, we can’t not say yes to Andre because he’s won championships.’ We have pursued him more than he has pursued us.”
- Myers acknowledged that the Warriors could use one more ball-handler, but suggested the team may not address that need right away. “If you’re talking about just a point guard, that player probably only plays if Curry or Poole is out. So you’re talking about 12 minutes if one of them is out,” Myers said, noting that the team could use a two-way slot to sign that sort of player. “… That also may be a situation where if (an injury) does happen and we need to add, we would add on the fly rather than rostering somebody right away. … That’s where the latitude of the 15th spot may be good too, to see how things break, and if we need a guard, we can add one as we go.”
- Myers expects rookies Patrick Baldwin Jr. (ankle) and Ryan Rollins (foot) to be ready to go for training camp. “Patrick’s been playing pick-up for the last few weeks and Ryan’s just about to start,” he told Kawakami.
- Barring another injury this fall, there’s “no reason to think” the Warriors won’t exercise Wiseman’s fourth-year rookie scale option for 2023/24 by next month’s deadline, according to Myers. That option would pay the former No. 2 overall pick approximately $12.1MM.
A healthy James Wiseman all year long would be huge. What an incredible element he could add just with his athleticism.
The guy’s only played a quarter of a season and what he’s shown so far with his size and running ability, hitting the three pointer and blocking shots, he could be such a fantastic part of this year’s team.
Big facts. Wiseman is a game changer
Just as a rim protector. He changes everything. Imo he’s got a big future. Got more offense than he’s given credit for. But there’s no need to rush him. He should help Dre age gracefully.
Seeing some Wisemen for Myles Turner rumors popping up. Not sure it makes sense to trade one oft-injured big for another oft-injured big that’s only a rental.
Best thing the Warriors can do is generate buzz around their younger players and figure out revenue streams to offset their huge tax bills. And then it comes down to really shrewd moves to set themselves up for Steph’s twilight years. Ray Allen would be a good comp for Steph. They have different games due to Ray’s size and athleticism but they’re the also best shooters of all time, Steph’s usage% is way higher, but his usage will start to dip to his Age 21-23 levels when he’s 36, 37, 38. So while the shooting will still be there, you’ll have that bell curve on usage, thus lower scoring, but still very effective scoring. The only problem will be defense against younger point guards and how he’ll keep up or match up. But I think you’re looking at 18-20 points per game from Steph in those twilight years, and they need to determine who will be that primary scoring option when Steph becomes #2 or the #3 option.
It very well could be Poole. He’s young enough. He’ll be 26/27 when Steph getting into that period. Will he develop into a +25ppg though is the key evaluation.
Yes exactly philly, the shooting doesn’t go away it just keeps getting better actually as you get older. The issue is getting open.
I think Poole is expendable if Ryan Rollins is Jordan Poole lite, which I think Dubs are hoping. Kicks the can down the road money-wise for 3 years. Poole is incredible but he’s not a lead guard on a championship team. He’s a perfect Sixth Man on a championship team. Most won’t agree with that but I have reasons.
I would understand Wiseman for miles turner. Wiseman can’t stay healthy. I suggested dealing him this Summer but hasn’t happened yet. We’ll see. The potential to be a stud is great but if he can’t stay on the floor you might gamble and deal him away.
Tough call. You’d hate to let him walk for nothing if you decide against giving him another $10 million per year contract.
Would you have traded Embiid away early in his career?
That’s a great question. Not sure if I can answer it. I went to Wikipedia to make sure I had all the facts straight on Joel Embiid and wow his first three years were a mess.
He had the foot thing the first two years and then halfway through his third season, and first of playing, he had the knee injury which put him out for the remainder of that year.
I think maybe the difference could be that with Joel Embiid you may not be able to get equal value for him, so you have to wait it out. Maybe I’m thinking James Wiseman does have trade value almost equal to his draft position. Whereas Joel Embiid, picked third, would not have equal trade value to his draft position.
All that to say, I don’t know what I would think or do. Probably have to keep Joel Embiid for the reasons I present here, and a little bit different than James Wiseman situation. Great question though and I don’t know. Thoughts?
Back when it was happening I was extremely vocal that Embiid was gonna be Hakeem level dominant & that ppl should just be a lil patient. Same thing us true with Wiseman, except I see him more as a Bosh/KG type. A lot of ppl don’t even remember that Embiid had injury troubles to start his career. Same will be true with Wiseman
Sixers waited as long as possible, too long to realize Embiid was the real deal. It’s why they got nothing for Nerlens and Jah. Both should have been deal after their first full season like MCW was.
They knew he was the real deal since before they drafted him. The only question was would his body hold up. Thats why they were overly cautious with him the 1st few yrs. The reason they got nothing for Jah or Nerlens is bc they fired Hinkie tho
Obviously GSW thinks Wiseman’s worth keeping, his injury history notwithstanding.
I’m rooting for him to succeed.
After looking at James Wiseman’s Wikipedia page his injury though drawn out and lingering and mysterious is a lot less complex than Joel Embiid’s. Wiseman suffered a torn meniscus that should not be a problem going forward. That’s the hope. Joel Embiid had the torn meniscus PLUS the broken foot issue.
Another thought is besides the diminished trade value, Joel Embiid is the far superior player. He’s top five in the league no doubt, maybe top 10 if someone inserts their personal favorites. James Wiseman is probably not top 50 in the league today.
So after all that I think I have an answer. No I would not trade Joel Embiid at that stage. But yes I would consider trading James Wiseman in the right deal. Wow tough question. Took a novel to respond.
Embiid is far superior now. They were similar level (elite) as prospects tho. Wiseman def projects to be a top5 big in the league once he’s in his prime. Ofc he’s not top50 now, he missed all if last season & he’s like 21yo lol. Embiid wasn’t top50 in the league at this point either… and the fact that Wisemans injuries are less serious seems like a great reason to keep him, not trade him
You make great points. Can you imagine James Wiseman being at that level and playing for the warriors? That would be totally insane. Fingers crossed.., that would be huge.
A good idea would to not write a massive essay about trades that are literally never going to happen.
The only, and I repeat only player GSW would consider trading is Wiggins, and that’s because he personally might not want to be here. Wiseman is not getting traded before he plays with the big 3 main core. Moody, Poole, Baldwin and Kuminga ARE NOT GETTING TRADED! STOP WASTING YOUR TIME! GSW is going to make the next 10 Finals in a row and absolutely will not veer off the longterm plan to trade for a MID veteran! That’s lunacy! Stop doing this dumb stuff!
The don’t need any buzz to generate income. They are by far the highest generating team already nearing 700 mill last year
Franchise went up 1.5 billion since Covid in valuation (3.5 to 5 billion )
Pops Curry gives a great interview about the money up there and how it just completely dwarfs other teams today
Right CapnCrunch, in fact there has been Warriors Buzz for a long time. Bay Area loves the Dubs and rabid fan base for quite a while now.
Run TMC.., then the Baron Davis team I remember we were all up to watch that Dallas series and the Nelson versus Mark Cuban Chronicles lol. They didn’t call it “rOar-acle” arena for nothing.
And yes that’s nothing to say of the cash in the bay area. There’s gold in them streets.
Yes, the skinny of Currys interview was that even after ALL the taxes the Warriors still net 100’s of millions more than almost every other club
Interview was given less than a week after they lost GP3…He was a bit disappointed and trying to give his honest inside opinion to dispel all the “too much money” after taxes trope that was being passed around putting it into a broader, more digestible sense to why it wasn’t
I get digging into financials isn’t fun or really something commoners gear up to do but I found the interview very interesting and enlightening
Why does A’sfaninLexington even bother? If he doesn’t want to read an essay then don’t read it LOL.. Such a strange thought process. It’s hard to even reason with such a person or have a exchange about basketball.
I like your post phillyballers, I thought it was interesting to read.
I want Iguodala! On this team! Even if he rides the bench all year! He’s just a great person to have around at all times! Exclamation point
Those are not Wiseman trade “rumors” you see on the internet, they are idiot “proposed trades” by some basketball know nothing.
First of all, Myles Turner is NOT a really good rebounder, check the numbers. He blocks shots on occasion, but likes to often play on the perimeter and is an inconsistent three pointer. I’ll take Looney.
Oh, by the way, why in tarnation would the W’s trade for ANOTHER player due for a big payday soon? As with the 1000 “trades” proposed last off season, NONE will come true. You guys might as well be debating how many angels can fit on the top of a pin, as they did in the Middle Ages.
*anyone still like last off season’s very popular trade “rumor” of Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody and Wiggins for Beal? You know, get another “star” to help Steph. What a disaster that would have been.
Wiseman and Ayton are the next great centers in this league. Who says bigs are over. You can’t teach Size.
I will be the first to say it.
Draymond Green this is Goodbye.
Poole is going to have to learn to run and then take over the point like Curry did if he expects to stick around.
Would love to see Poole assume part of Dray’s role but that’s a huge stretch. Dray’s strengths as a defender, rebounder, and point-forward out running bigs up the floor looking to create have been HUGE to the dubs success. Very few like him, especially when you realize how each element of that package have been at the core of the dubs scoring bursts. These are the intangibles he brings. But that package wears down over time, and I really hope JK, moody, and wiseman can show more of this kind of Dray-like magic. Each has shown flashes of it.