The Suns’ willingness to give numerous free agents a two-year deal with a player option has helped them trump the Warriors in the free agent market, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic explains.
Golden State has been unwilling to provide minimum-salary offers with a second optional year due to luxury tax implications and the risk of committing a 2024/25 roster spot to a signee who didn’t work out. The Suns also had more playing time available and those factors helped sway Eric Gordon, who was the Warriors’ top backcourt target in free agency.
The Warriors are planning to go with a 14-man roster and have two slots open, which they intend to use on bigs, Slater writes. Power forward Dario Saric remains their top target still on the board.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- The Athletic’s John Hollinger gives the Suns high marks for their free agent catches, including a couple of underrated players in Keita Bates-Diop and Drew Eubanks. Bates-Diop, who previously played for the Spurs, could emerge as a key role player in the postseason, since he can guard multiple positions and shoots reasonably well from long distance. Eubanks is an energetic backup center who’s a superior rim protector and defender than Jock Landale, whom the Suns let go.
- The Lakers‘ front office made a series of shrewd moves this summer, Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times opines. The Lakers’ didn’t chase another star, as they have in the past. Instead, they re-signed Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura and signed two other solid players in Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince, rather than trying to sign Kyrie Irving or trade for Bradley Beal.
- DeMarre Carroll is joining the Lakers as an assistant coach, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin tweets. Carroll was an assistant on Mike Budenholzer‘s staff with the Bucks last season and now will join Darvin Ham‘s staff. Carroll played for the Hawks when Budenholzer was the head coach there and Ham was one of the assistants.
USC has 3 backcourt guys in Isaiah Collier, Boogie Ellis & Kobe Johnson that should most likely start ahead of Bronny. If Bronny has a good but not great season for a strong Trojan squad but only plays around 20mins/gm how high can u see him going in the draft, considering that whichever team drafts him could also potentially be getting LeBron’s final couple of seasons for far less than market value? Could being attached to LeBron possibly push him into the lottery or higher?.. link to m.youtube.com
I could see someone trading up in the first round to get him if it means getting LeBron, but does LeBron sign for the minimum? Whoever drafts him will have to keep that in mind.
What if he doesn’t get drafted at all? Lakers can just sign him so he can play with his dad. I know the Lakers don’t have a 1st rounder next year, but what if he falls and the Lakers take him in the 2nd? You know they have to be thinking about how to get him on the team.
I think he’s good but overhyped a bit. He’s under tremendous pressure because of who his dad is. He just needs to let the game come to him and we’ll see what happens in a year.
Does Bronny want to play with his dad ? I believe Lebron has cooled on this topic a little bit to not put pressure on his son. Lebron also knows he opened his mouth so now teams know how to get Lebron get his son. I’m assuming Bronny stays at college a few years to try to do something his dad didn’t win a NCAA championship. And now with the NIL money he has no reason to rush things. Let himself develop.
And if he only plays 10-15 minutes a game he could enter the draft because players can now go back to school ? Maybe the lakers could take him.
I’ve seen mock drafts have bronny as high as the 10th best prospect in next years draft. Next year is a weak class and he grades out as one of the better perimeter defenders in this class. How he plays this year can change that.
I think Lebron will let him forge his own path and when he’s established I think lebrons absolute last year will be with his son as second fiddle. After thought. Hell maybe he signs for minimum plays a game with him and retires. Lebron will not want to overshadow his son. His son has huge shoes to fill that he can never fill.
LeBron is gonna be 40. Exactly how much time is Bronny gonna need to get ready to play with Dad for his final season???
L..B. James aka Lebronny is going to be the first pick in the Draft. In my more formal sports betting fourm I wrote the whole deal up.
It won’t matter how much Bronny plays. His dad comes with him is what matters. The prime directive when it comes to tanking is to win less than 25 games.
Only 4 teams can get into the lottery.
Name the four teams L.B. James will be possibly playing for next year. Perfeabally 2 from each conference.
Raptors. Heat. Spurs. Trailblazers.
Warriors fans
For the available free agents, I only like 2
Wood and Saric
I can promise Wood a starter spot, he would be like Donte and $50mm to New York
Bench
Looney
Kuminga
Payton
Paul
Solid 4
I’m going out on a limb and saying Saric won’t sign with GSW because it was leaked before the free agency period started and the Warriors don’t want to forfeit a pick and/or cash for free agency gun jumping.
Free Agency doesn’t start until this coming Friday. They could start talking to players last Friday. So, the Warriors didn’t jump the gun.
Given that there were no reports of an agreement before free agency and there still isn’t one on July 4, I think they’d be OK. There are worse culprits out there.
All of the immediate signings this whole tampering thing is a joke. Taking draft picks away from people for signing role players is absurd. League altering move, okay maybe I get it. But tampering for Saric or guys like PJ Tucker is asinine.
So they are thinking they have 12 + 2 bigs yet to be acquired?
S Curry
D Green
K Thompson
K Looney
A Wiggins
J Kuminga
M Moody
C Paul
G Payton II
B Podziemski
C Joseph
T Jackson-Davis
Plus 2 bigs. I pray this actually happens and those bigs are two of Christian Wood, Mo Bamba or Dario Saric. Won’t dislike this roster, but there’s still way too many under 6’6″ players here. Size matters in this league. AD and Bron will eat you alive.
Being able to play defense and not turn the ball over matters more.
I dont think it matters more, but rather is of equal importance, yes those are very important and removing Poole helps with that. Warriors turned all opponents to dust when Bogut was there. They need that big body to put up against teams with 3 bigs, as 3-guard lineups don’t work against 3-big lineups.
I think Kuminga and Moody turn into superstars this season if Kerr doesn’t block them and gives them proper rotation time.
Wow. Maybe you are beginning to learn something about Basketball. Maybe there is some hope for you. Kerr never blocked Kuminga and Moody. He got tired of them giving up leads every night.
Wow. Maybe you are starting to understand basketball more thanks to my elite level analysis and here I dropped down to break into your peon little tiny mind that wouldnt know ball if it hit you in the head. Maybe there is some hope for you after all + you are welcome! Please read and listen to me more, you are starting to get better!
Yeah right, Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb gave up the leads every night, you would know Kuminga+Moody’s talent if you knew ball, but youre a SF Giants fan, youre too busy eating caviar in a $900 bleacher seat while spending your time spouting nonsense as if you know better (you dont).
Warriors aren’t winning with that roster…
Never count out Steph Curry…
@scarlett Why not? The Warriors filled their biggest holes from last season.
They still need a bigman that can rebound and protect the rim
@gardo The Nuggets have Jokic and were 18th in Rebounding. The Warriors were 8th. Maybe Denver needs a better Center.
Better center? Jokic was a rebound monster in the playoffs. The NUGGETS almost out-rebounded all their opponents. Ayton and AD can’t guard Jokic.
They still have Draymond on an overpay…
They have no centres…
They have CP3…
There’s more reasons but those are the big 3…
CP3 is a vast improvement over Poole. They have a Center. And Draymond is still one of the best defenders and ball distributors in the Association. What are your other reasons.
CP3 is one of the best point guards ever. He can still hit the mid range shots, find the open man, and get FT whenever team needs one. BUT, he’s 38! There’s a reason why Suns let him go. There’s a reason why Suns lost miserably in the postseason. His play has dropped drastically this past season. His body has fallen apart and doesnt recover as well. Finally, he talks too much for a guy who has never won. Yes, he might be better than Poole but it doesnt matter if he’s not on court playing. Additionally, Klay, Draymond, Curry will all be 1 yr OLDER. Klay had dead legs and had his worst postseason ever. And Draymonds knees need load mgmt. Warriors are 1 injury away from missing the postseason. Warriors only chance: Wiggins plays like he’s the #2 star on the team, and Kuminga and Moody somehow finally arrive and contributes like Poole did 2 yrs ago.
They won’t have Paul for longer than the trade deadline, he’s a poor fit on GSW and everyone knows it. Great call, Paul still runs his mouth like Poole does, they really did flip one problem for another.
Ben Simmons is also a great defender and ball distributor…
Without many all stars that player type just isn’t worth much… Draymond is also older and just as scared when it comes to taking a shot…
Cp3 is past his prime and constantly injured when it matters… Not an All star…
Thompson isn’t an All star level player anymore…
Wiggins never truly was…
That leaves 1 all star next to Draymond… Not enough to make having his skill set worthwhile…
Especially with CP3 taking the ball out of his hands… It’ll be 5 on 4 in those situations with no one guarding Draymond making Curry easier to double team… No different to how Ben Simmons is treated…
And what Centre? Looney? He’s solid but won’t help against AD, Jokic or Embiid… So that’s still a huge question mark…
Saric would be a solid pickup for Warriors. He fits that system like a glove.
Honestly…. the Sixers should be trying to sign him.
Didn’t Philly already have Saric once?
It’s funny how I singled him out but I liked Dario Saric on the Sixers when he was younger. He was always on the floor, did a lot of the little things, could get Buckets, and it was obvious why he was a lottery pick. Just a good player not flashy but got it done.
He’s carved out a nice career so far and he’s still only 29 and missed a year with ACL so he still has a lot of life in his legs and body. Thing is he made 9 million last year I think it’s a pipe dream the Warriors get him on a minimum one year contract. That’s why it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe Curry Chris Paul Draymond can compel him to come over for a year? In my opinion they sort of need the guy now. He’d get plenty of minutes.
Yes, but the Sixers need a backup stretch PF. If Filip comes over, I mean that’s basically Saric 2.0.
I think the Sixers haven’t filled their 11th and 12th roster spots bc of Reed’s decision and possibly Filip or a harden trade bringing in excess players.
Saric isn’t a good defender tho, but he’s been a pretty efficient scorer the last couple years in limited minutes. Sixers def need that.
He’s a stretch 4 really. Who can get buckets. Also rebounds. Sixers could use that. And all the help they can get. It’s the minimum
Does anyone know exactly what positions Kuminga and Moody play ? I understand Wiseman is gone because his game did not fit the Warrior’s style, but do the other young players fit in ?
Moody plays Thompson’s SG/SF role although obv isnt the same style player, Kawhi was Moody’s “best case” comp coming out of the draft.
Kuminga can guard all positions and play point forward and power forward. I think he can play everywhere but C but on a Kerr team that means he 100% will be playing C along with 4 scrub guards under 6’4″, ensuring he fails by not playing with the HOFers.
Nobody with any cred had Kawhi as an upside comp for Moody. And now it is a laughable comp. Kawhi was an elite defender from day 1 in the NBA at age 20. Moody was a terrible defender last year at age 20 and was tied with Jordan Poole and Ty Jerome with the worst Defensive Rating on the Warriors.
Moses Moody has an overall feel for the game and does well out on the floor because he doesn’t make too many mistakes. He understands where to be what to do Etc he has physical gifts he can shoot the ball, he can defend okay, but what’s lacking is that killer get it done attitude.
He’s just a guy who’s pretty good but needs an attitude adjustment to take it to the next level. He’s like a 17 year old out there, too tentative. He needs a little dog in him.
He has good size so he’ll play shooting guard and small forward but I think if there was a skills critique maybe he can’t beat his man off the dribble. Hard to say because he usually kicks it to another guy if he’s not taking a jump shot.
Jonathan Kuminga is equally difficult to figure out his best position. He jumps through the roof and does have a little dog in him as opposed to Moody, yet his game has not advanced past his rookie year. He’ll nail the three, he’ll go to the hole strong, and he’ll throw it down in traffic.
I love all that stuff. He also tries hard on defense and they’ve even encouraged him with the unofficial label of Team stopper on the wing. Encouragement is great but let’s see it happen.
At 6-7 he can play A Poor Man’s power forward against most of the league but good to great power forwards he has trouble defending. He’s just not strong enough yet. He can’t play shooting guard on offense so really he’s a small forward.
I’m Hoping for the best for both these guys and as Draymond Green says maybe Chris Paul can unlock these dudes and help them Reach Max potential.
I think James Wiseman is gone because the physical gifts which are plenty, did not match up with the stuff between the ears.
He was aggressive he would go to the hole and throw it down hard, he would run the floor like a deer, shoot the three, he was fantastic when you watched him play.
But try sticking him in an NBA game where spacing on the floor matters and getting to the correct rotation on defense matters and knowing when to leave your man and help matters, that’s where James Wiseman had issues.
All the complications and drawn up plays in the locker room on the Whiteboard did not register to on the floor performance for this kid.
Take Bol Bol