Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2024 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Golden State Warriors.
Free agent signings
Buddy Hield: Four years, $37,756,096. Third year partially guaranteed ($3MM). Fourth-year player option (partially guaranteed for $3,136,364 if exercised). Signed using Bird rights and acquired via sign-and-trade from Sixers.- Kyle Anderson: Three years, $27,658,536. Third year non-guaranteed. Signed using Bird rights and acquired via sign-and-trade from Timberwolves.
- De’Anthony Melton: One year, $12,822,000. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
- Jackson Rowe: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired Lindy Waters from the Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to Quinten Post (No. 52 pick).
- Reacquired the draft rights to Quinten Post (No. 52 pick) from the Trail Blazers in exchange for cash.
- Acquired Kyle Anderson (sign-and-trade) and Buddy Hield (sign-and-trade) in a six-team trade in exchange for Klay Thompson (sign-and-trade; to Mavericks), swap rights for the Warriors’ 2031 second-round pick (to Timberwolves), and cash (to Timberwolves)
Draft picks
- 2-52: Quinten Post
- Unsigned.
Two-way signings
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Usman Garuba (unsigned)
- Jerome Robinson (Saint-Quentin)
- Lester Quinones (unsigned)
- Dario Saric (Nuggets)
- Klay Thompson (Mavericks)
Other moves
- Waived Chris Paul.
Salary cap situation
- Operating over the cap ($140.6MM), over the luxury tax line ($170.8MM), and below the first tax apron ($178.1MM).
- Carrying approximately $176.6MM in salary.
- Hard-capped at $178,132,000.
- Bi-annual exception available.
- One traded player exception available (worth $2,019,706).
The offseason so far
It was the end of an era this summer in the Bay Area, as four-time champion Klay Thompson, decided to move on to a new team after spending his first 13 NBA seasons with the Warriors.
Seeing Thompson in a Mavericks uniform next season will be an adjustment — if there was one group of active core players who seemed destined to spend their entire careers with a single franchise, it was Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green with the Warriors.
Still, it’s hard to say the move was particularly surprising, given how disgruntled Thompson seemed to be during his final season in Golden State as his role diminished, his production declined, and the Warriors’ extension offer(s) came in below what he believed his history with the organization warranted.
Thompson is still an effective offensive weapon (he averaged 17.9 PPG with a .387 3PT% last season), but his defense has fallen off since he tore his ACL and Achilles, and moving on from him and Chris Paul (whose $30MM non-guaranteed salary was waived) makes the Warriors’ roster younger, more flexible, and more affordable heading into the 2024/25 season.
After operating above the luxury tax line for years, the Warriors made a concerted effort to cut costs — ownership would likely still be willing to spend big bucks for a championship contender, but the club didn’t make it out of the first round of the play-in tournament this spring. It didn’t make sense to continue carrying such a significant payroll.
The move below the first tax apron allowed the Dubs to make the kinds of moves that had been off-limits for years, including using their full mid-level exception (on versatile guard De’Anthony Melton) and acquiring players via sign-and-trade (sharpshooter Buddy Hield and savvy veteran Kyle Anderson).
The newcomers won’t instantly return Golden State to title contention, but there’s optimism that their mix of skill sets and the ongoing development of young players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and Trayce Jackson-Davis can make the Warriors a deeper, more dangerous team than they were in 2023/24.
Up next
With 14 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, the Warriors’ roster looks just about regular-season-ready. Adding a 15th man is unlikely due to the team’s proximity to its hard cap, and while Gui Santos and Lindy Waters aren’t necessarily locked in for the regular season due to their non-guaranteed salaries, there has been no indication Golden State will look to replace either player.
Still, there are issues to address before the season begins, starting with potential contract extensions. Kuminga and Moody are eligible for rookie scale extensions, while Curry could sign a one-year veteran extension worth approximately $62.6MM for 2026/27.
I wouldn’t necessarily expect Moody to get a new deal this summer or fall. His playing time has been inconsistent in his first three seasons, so the Warriors will be reluctant to pay him big money based on his career achievements so far, while Moody will be reluctant to lock in a long-term deal before he gets a chance to show what he can do with a more regular role.
Curry, on the other hand, seems more likely to get something done. The Over-38 rule prevents the Warriors from tacking on more than one year to the two left on his current deal, but I have to think they’d be willing to give him that one year if he wants it. Curry showed in the gold medal game at the Paris Olympics that we shouldn’t count on his performance falling off anytime soon.
Kuminga’s case is a trickier one. Based on his breakout performance during the second half of the 2023/24 season (he averaged 20.0 PPG and 5.4 RPG on .547/.377/.778 shooting during a 34-game stretch from January 12 to March 26 before injuring his knee), he’d be justified in seeking a massive payday.
I don’t expect the Warriors to give him the maximum-salary deal that his fellow 2021 draftees Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Franz Wagner received. The question is whether there’s an amount below the max that makes sense for both sides.
Given his limited track record, you may balk at the idea of a deal in the range of $150-175MM for Kuminga, but if he follows up last year’s breakout by taking another step forward, he could be worth even more than that in free agency next summer. As a point of comparison, Immanuel Quickley got $162.5MM in guaranteed money from Toronto last month as a restricted free agent. This will be a tricky negotiation, so it wouldn’t be a shock if Golden State takes its chances and postpones it until 2025.
In addition to sorting through possible extensions, the Warriors will have to resolve Quinten Post‘s situation. The No. 52 overall pick is one of the only unsigned players from this year’s draft class — a two-way deal would make sense, given his draft slot, but Golden State would have to waive someone (possibly Pat Spencer?) to create a two-way opening for Post.
The Warriors’ pursuit of Lauri Markkanen showed that the front office isn’t opposed to shaking up its roster before training camp, but with the Jazz forward no longer trade-eligible, I don’t see any trade candidates out there right now that make a ton of sense for Golden State. While general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will probably keep an eye out for possible deals, I’d be a little surprised if he does anything significant by October.
48-34.
60-22 if Moody plays 25+ MPG and Podz plays less than 20 MPG
46-36 if Podz plays more than 25+ MPG and Moody plays less than 20 MPG
They simply cant win a title with Steph, Dray and Podz out there together as the big 3. But everyone comes to their senses and realizes Podz best role on this team is as the strict backup to Steph at PG, they will win a LOT of games. Any other additional roles, or continuing to lie about how well he plays at SG, will be a disaster in terms of roster management. Play Moses Moody at SG more = win more.
Who’s the better player, Klay Thompson Prime or Moses Moody Prime to be?
Who’s the better player, Khris Middleton prime or Moses Moody Prime to be?
Comparing a 21 year old to two HOFers isn’t something I would do to any player.
Okay so you’re saying Moses Moody will not be good as Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton.
Yet I believe that’s the picture you’re painting for him. All star shooting guard which will have an impact on the won/ loss column if he plays big minutes.
Where I’m putting my stake in the ground is that he’s just a guy running around out there going 3-7 from the field and getting lost on switches at the defensive end.
Sure he can stay in front of a guy but when complexities of the other team’s offense manifests, he’s done.
Offensively trying to make plays for other players he’s about as good as Klay Thompson in that category. Zero skill. Khris Middleton is a little better in that area.
But Moses Moody is just a guy my friend. Just a guy.
Steph Curry would NEVER play with him as a starter and count on him to get a pass out of a Curry double team and make the open shot. He’s just not that guy. He’s tentative he’s awkward he’s not confident.
You can say he hasn’t received the minutes but these are the things you have to PROVE IN PRACTICE.
In practice he’s just a guy running around doing nothing of consequence.
What bothers me about Moody I have not heard much from him this off season. Kuminga and Podz been working hard to take it to the next level. Some players have the desire to be better so hopefully Moody is being mad dog this off season. Even Looney been steeping it up and lost some weight playing hard.
Maybe because he’s working out at home and away from his teammates in the Bay Area and at the team facility? Hopefully someone is in his ear telling him to get his stuff together. This is a HUGE year for Moses Moody.
His make or break year to show he is a starter or just a bench guy.
Davey J. How much you give me on that? 60 wins, please.
500 at best. Moody and podz would need to double their output offensively and that isn’t happening. Heild is toast and Meltons back is melted. With this being said, poz a part of a big 3 is nonsense.
Why do you keep copying and pasting this same post over and over?
Can if I was copying and pasting it would be me copying and pasting my own comment. Sorry you disagree with the reality.
Don’t worry you will be reminded of your post when GSW make the playoffs and you team is sitting home watching again.
Playoffs? Sir the question is record. No question curry is elite and clutch. There is no big 3 . If my team is sitting home then PG,Maxey and MVP missed the entire season.
3 years ago to start the season same thing was said and they won. Kuminga is coming into his own this year. With the youth stepping up they will be in the playoffs. Thompson was not that great last year. Still can shoot but slower on defense. having 3 big stars on a team is a thing of the past with the new CBA.
Excellent best guess. 48-34 is 6th-7th place
Upside: Kuminga, Podz, & TJD take next step, 54-28 for 5th place.
If Steph misses 30 games, 41-41 for 12th place.
Dubs have to make a move, If only because current roster construction is unworkable (too many wings). I’m betting we trade 2 of Wiggins, Moody, Looney or Payton before season starts for a significant player on an expiring contract. There will be another small wave of trades before the season involving players that didn’t get the contracts they wanted this summer because their teams put their money elsewhere. Expect rumors to heat up around Alperen Sengun, Myles Turner, and Brandon Ingram, among others. These players will either be moved or their teams will make other major deals to create cap space for them.
Well said. Moody has to go because they definitely don’t want to extend him at the wrong money.
Wiggins should go but he serviceable and has an idea what he’s doing out there, when he’s out there.
Gary Payton is past his usefulness for this team. He was a key ingredient 3 years ago but he’s the 12th man on this team. No shot no handles maybe a corner three or a putback dunk and good defense but he gets hurt. 12th man. 30 years old. Upside realized already. I’d play Lindy Waters and other guys ahead of him.
@ Aristotle. Myles Turner would be absolutely awesome for the Warriors. Once Kuminga is paid Warriors be bankrolling like Boston and half as good. Like I’ve stated before it’s not feasible, wont impact going deep.
It’s too bad Danny Ainge wouldn’t take Jonathan Kuminga Moses booty and some draft picks. He’s no dummy. He knows those guys are up for contract extensions.
Oh well, but as Aristotle says, they might package those guys for some other veteran on an expiring deal. Fingers crossed but I’m pretty sure they do something also BEFORE the season starts.
Waiting to the trade deadline will be too late. As they say, “When the tide goes out you can see who’s been swimming naked.” Kuminga and Moody will be exposed by half a season of inconsistency by then.
Sorry, voice to text and did not proof read !! Moses Moody of course.
Apparently great minds think alike…except when it comes to Jonathan Kuminga.
I’m taking it as a forgeone conclusion: they absolutely won’t trade him, and they are confident he will continue to develop, and they are going to battle his agent down to the wire to keep the size of an extension to a minimum.
Whatever amount Kuminga signs for, it’ll feel like way too much in the first 2 years, but at years 3-5, with Steph either gone or soon to be gone, it’ll feel like a bargain.
You are probably right on that.
At first glance I honestly thought you were censoring yourself as in “it’s too bad Danny Ainge would take Johnathon Kuminga, Moses’s a** and some draft picks”
Yes especially after the Warren Buffett quote swimming naked lol. Honest mistake though sorry I missed it.
Houston aren’t far off and Memphis will be back with vengeance. Throw in Sacramento and the Warriors making the playoffs would be a surprise.
Unfortunately that’s a real possibility. It’ll make the season exciting that’s for sure. Every game will count. The West is so so tough.
Agree, overall deeper. The East is top heavy and drops way off, not the west. Twelve into eight won’t go with the Warriors being in that group of 7-12 on paper.
The Warriors need to win every single game against the East visitor on a road trip that isn’t in the top four. So that’s what, 10 or 11 wins there. Absolute must.
There’s no Cake Walk In The West that’s for sure. Going to be a tough year but a great year as a fan.
I’ve missed Ja big time. I’d pick plenty of guys over him to start a franchise if had a choice but far as watching his freak athleticism and fearlessness he’s close to the no.1 ticket. Memphis will be serious if healthy. I also actually like Steph on the Offensive end and if I was a warriors fan I don’t want anything to do with hearing player development while Steph is there.
7-10 seed with normal injury luck. Wouldn’t take much for them to be on the outside looking in.
Waters had a team option that the Warriors exercised a few days after the trade. And I thought there was still $7M+ left from Klay’s TE.
Waters’ team option (exercised before the trade) was non-guaranteed.
No TPE was ever created for Klay — they used his outgoing $15.9MM salary to take in more than that ($17.6MM total for Hield/Anderson).
Luke , given that the Warriors are currently hard-capped, is there any limitation on aggregating salaries to make a trade? For instance, could they combine Wiggins’ and Payton’s salaries in matching Brandon Ingram’s?
Yeah, they’re allowed to aggregate salaries. Since the Warriors are operating under the first apron, they’re not subject to any of the apron restrictions — their only real limitation is being unable to surpass that first-apron hard cap.
Thanks, Luke.
Brandon Ingram made it known he doesn’t want to play for Kerr. He said he doesn’t fit Kerr coaching style and doesn’t want to play under Kerr. So it will never happen them trading for Ingram.
arc89, as a Dubs fan, I wouldn’t want Brandon Ingram. I offered Wiggins & Ingram as an example because I assumed the players’ salaries were well-known.
Brandon Ingram aside, I believe we’re about to see some trades done for financial expediency, not to keep players happy. There will be players going to undesired locations, and where the parties see the player staying only one year.
Nobody has yet raised the unprecedented level of tanking expected this year, and how that will impact W-L records for the teams that aren’t. Betting futures are shaping up to show 6 (“SIX”) teams trying not to win.
West
1. Portland
2. Utah (finally going “all in”)
East
1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Washington
4. Charlotte (still unofficial, but Vegas thinks so)
That means for the 24 competitive teams, about 1/5 of games are much more winnable. (Because of imbalanced inter-conference scheduling, the effect is greater in the East than West.) The net effect is that the non-tanking teams will have more wins, and it could take as many as 51-52 games to avoid the play-in (finish 6th) in the West.
How is Utah trying to go all in? Lol
All in to tank. Not messing around this year.
Doomed…
Nope. Door still open for success. They brought in veterans that know how to play.
They’re definitely fighting for a playoff spot but I wouldn’t say they’re doomed. You just hate the warriors for some reason.
Any real and honest analysis says the Warriors have a chance to make the playoffs. That’s a fact.
Steve Kerr will coach the 11th best team in the West.
Boston will be a play in team after all the injury hits and people will say what happened??
This was their best off season since 2016 when they got KD. I am not saying they will win a championship but they added lots of great role players that fit their system.
Brabo , it’s been a solid off-season to date, but the front office clearly hasn’t achieved its goal of acquiring another difference maker.
The current roster construction won’t work: they’ve got too many wings and will be spending moeny on players to sit. Everybody knows that they can’t get their money’s worth from all 5 of Moody, GP2, Melton, Hield, and Wiggins.
Somthing’s gotta give.
The NBA today is all about wings. Athletic guys who can shoot, dribble, Pass, Drive, and defend.
Moody has to go and Gary Payton has to go. That much is given and I think they’ll work to get that done from now until it is done LOL
> How is Utah trying to go all in? Lol
Spoken like a true Jazz fan.
If they don’t finish in the bottom 10, they lose their first round pick to OKC.
They’ll be trying to give their young players the minutes, not the role players
The Dubs front office has made solid ancillary moves to shore up their depth but I honestly believe that they’re still going to need a clear cut #2/1A type of guy to fill that role that fit Klay so well for so long. Just someone that can take over on offense on nights where Curry’s not feeling it or if he’s sitting that particular night.
Hield has shown that he can be a high volume 3pt shooter at times but the guy is a sieve on the other end. He’s not stopping anyone and the longer he’s out there the more points he’ll give back on that end.
At times, Wiggins has shown that he can be a solid alternative to Klay in that GS offense but his game has fallen off in recent years after finally showing some growth and consistency during that season where he started an All-Star game and was a key contributor to that 2022 championship team. For whatever reasons he just not that guy any longer.
Its going to be interesting to see if the Dubs front office can go find that 2nd star to fit next to Steph. They do own some valuable trade chips in JK, Pods and multiple tradable firsts but there aren’t many star players hitting the market these days. The Markkanen situation is just proof that you need to act fast if/when these types of players become available.
It’s true they need another star. But I think the Warriors have adjusted their roster to play a little more defense. That will help them stay in games and the shot makers can help win the games at the end. At least that’s my thought from watching the transactions.
Gary, I honestly think that Hield, SloMo & Melton aren’t much different than other players that GS surrounded Steph with during that stretch of seasons before Klay came back from injury. We’re going to see the same level of issues that we saw from the Warriors during that stretch, especially if Curry or Green get hurt.
Also the Dubs really haven’t upgraded their center position either and literally every team that is competing in the West have at least one capable center on their roster (outside of maybe the Pelicans.) I do think TJD will be a decent rotation guy but there’s not much behind him. Looney excelled when GS surrounded him with 3-4 HOFers but those days are over. As for Post, coming from a BC fan I wish him well there but he’s got Luke Kornet written all over him, imho.
The Warriors may have improved their defense a bit and added a little more depth but competing in the West is no joke and just those teams right around the Dubs spot in the standings have all made somewhat large improvements.
SAC added DDR.
NO added Murray
PHO added an actual point guard in Tyus Jones
even Houston found good rotation center in Steven Adams who should be good to go by the season start.
The Lakers are the only West “contender” that didn’t improve their roster much but with a healthy Lebron & AD they could compete with anyone.
Maybe the Dubs are closer to the playoffs today than they were when their 23/24 season ended but they’re honestly still a ways back from the West middle of the pack teams let alone the Thunder,Nuggets,Mavs & Wolves near the top.
The playoffs are so much more fun with Steph than without him, hopefully the GS front office finds a way to keep building up the talent around him.
My head says you’re absolutely correct on those points. My heart says everything will click and come together perfectly and they’ll be a six or seven seed.
My money says injuries happen and the Warriors will fall by the wayside since most of the roster that does anything worthwhile is 30 plus. So that money stays in my pocket LOL
I do have confidence in Mike dunleavy. I think he will work to make the roster a championship caliber unit. It may not be this year. Theyve decided after swinging and missing for a star that this is a reset year. Bring in a couple of veterans and see what happens.
Perhaps it’s next summer they bring in the super stud?
So essentially all is not lost just yet. This year may not be exactly as I hope but the Warriors are not done as long as Curry is around.
Well said, Gary. This seems like the season to really see what they have in Kuminga & Pods by giving them a much larger role on offense, they really don’t have much to lose there.
I can’t wait for that Nov 6th game when the Dubs come to Boston. Hopefully its a just a little bit closer than that last meeting. ;p
Yes hopefully a little closer like the last time they met in the playoffs.
Lol, Just throwing a kind-hearted jab at you. I didn’t look it up and I probably forgot but didn’t the Celtics win by 50 or so last time they met? Atrocious.
Congrats on the Celtics being good AND being young. They’re paying their guys so you should be good for three or four more years.
These two teams are now far from where they were at the end of that Finals run. I kind of look at that series as a lesson Tatum & Brown both needed to learn. In 2022 they didn’t know how to close out against the best of teams and had a habit of “playing with their food” so to speak, in 2024 that is no longer an issue.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where it all goes from here and maybe if we’re lucky we’ll get to see a GS vs Boston round two.
The Timberwolves could be in the same boat you’re speaking of with the Celtics a few years ago. They need to get there and learn first before they win it all. And then they could win a lot. OKC also. Have a reasonable amount of success but fall short as they learn how to get it done in the playoffs.
Yup, those two teams are definitely going to be giving teams fits in the coming years. I’m just glad that they’re both out West lol.
It will be interesting to see how those two go forward financially in the years to come. Like Boston, the Wolves already have a ton of money on their books for the immediate future and OKC will need to eventually pay everyone at some point. Both teams are near the bottom of the league in revenue but a few long playoff runs could start to change that.
Ericthredd , that’s a really good analysis. Allow me to offer some counterpoint.
Possibly more than any team in the NBA, the Warriors are run like a corporation, maximizing the value of their shares, and the ability to sell them. Valuation depends on all future years, not just the next two. They make trades based of the value of the discounted future income streams from those player assets, not on what a trade yields in the next 2 years.
When seen as discounted streams of future value, what you call “chips” have considerably more value than what you propose exchanging them for. The Celtics have skillfully doubled their valuation to $5B over the last 7 years because they manage their player assets this way. Equity in the Warriors is trading at per an ~$8.5B. Making trades along the lines you propose would be be like setting fire to billions of dollars of cash.
I’m assuming all of that is in response to this remark I made “They do own some valuable trade chips in JK, Pods and multiple tradable firsts but there aren’t many star players hitting the market these days.”
What the Warriors situation pretty much comes down to is this, they’re running out of time where Steph is capable of carrying the team to a championship. He’s 36yrs old and not getting any younger and we’re already seeing Draymond’s decline in progress. His defense isn’t on the same level that it was just 3-4 years ago. Not to long ago he was considered the best defender in basketball and in 2024 he couldn’t land a single vote for the All-Defensive teams.
I do agree that the Dubs front office has turned players over as assets throughout the years and it has worked out well for them (KD to Brooklyn for Russell who eventually turned into Wiggins who helped GS win a Finals. Its also gone the other way where they owned the #2 pick and basically got nothing lasting from their selection of James Wiseman) but my main rebuke to that is, Bob Meyers was the man making those decisions and he’s gone. Mike Dunleavy Jr’s roster decisions haven’t been on the same level as Meyers.
I totally agree that we could see the Warriors develop Kuminga, Pods & TJD into championship caliber players in starring roles but will that happen before its too late to win again with Curry? I admit I’m skeptical of that happening. Can MDJ find Steph’s new sidekick by dealing away certain players in the near future? Definitely possible but Again, Golden State is running out of time on Steph Curry’s career.
I know many GS fans here like to just believe that everything is awesome and the next unproven guy on the roster is a superstar in waiting but those of us that have been watching the NBA for many years now know that’s really just a load of crap. Watching a dynasty die down sucks when you’re a fan of that team (I saw it with the 80’s Celtics and more recently with Brady and the Pats) and sometimes there’s some success once the roster has been turned over but in most cases its downhill soon after.
Watching GS “maximizing the value of their shares” isn’t really the issue here, its watching them do it while Steph Curry can carry the load in a 90-100 game season is. He’s only got so many of those left and before someone attempts to point at this Olympic run as some sort of proof that he does, just remember that that “run” was only about 10-12 total games where half didn’t even count.
erickthredd , those are good points, I hope I can do them justice. I’ve got to give some background before answering your points more directly.
Most NBA franchises (Celtics included) use a 4 to 7 year plan that considers roster construction, player contracts, and tax/penalty schedules (as imposed by the NBA/CBA). About half the teams in the NBA can pay the luxury tax at a minimal basis, and some can go deeper, which is a decided competitive advantage. A plan involves development of the roster, but also requires a lot of finance and legal resources. The “art” of these plans is to synchronize roster and payroll/tax to take a shot at the Championship. That means that all teams recognize what part of the cycle they are in — resetting, developing, competing, and, hopefully, winning. Respectfully, many of your assumptions would have held a few years ago, but they don’t under the constraints NBA teams operate under today.
You mention Myers and Dunleavy. Depending on the organization the maintainers of a plan differs, typically based on the level of involvement of ownership and the makeup of the “basketball operations” group. In the Warriors’ case, ownership is the management. It’s Lakob’s primary focus and his two sons are Senior VP’s, and, IIRC, one of them is Senior VP of Player Development and one is Senior VP/General Manager. NBA GM’s are not owners, and typically have a tenure of less than 4 years, which comes with a short-term bias (which conflicts with the shareholder’s longer-term horizon), which is why they don’t own these plans. Neither Myers nor Dunleavy have Stephens’, who is apparently a natural manager, broad skillset. Myers did not have, nor does Dunleavy currently have, the responsibility you infer in terms of owning decisions on which players to draft, develop, pay and trade. Myers, like Dunleavy, is a primary contributor, but decisions are (supposedly) “collaborative”, with an active ownership having the strongest voice. The GM owns the nuts-and-bolts of transactions and contract negotiation. In Boston, Brad Stevens has a more senior role than Myers or Dunleavy, and does a lot of what the more senior people in the Warriors operation do.
Now, to answer your points about acquiring star players.
First, the constraints. The Warriors must stay under the apron this season to “reset” the repeater tax, which hits harder with each consecutive year over the apron(s). The Warriors had an effective payroll last season close to $500M, and it would be significantly higher this year. (As discussed elsewhere, the Celtics hit this level after the upcoming season.) By resetting, the repeater penalties start at $0 next year. Lakob has said so publicly several times recently, just and also that he expects the Warriors to start spending over the tax next year.
Second, although winning is the goal and the clock is ticking for Steph, there is a more important consideration: the Warriors cannot become a non-competitive time for a several consecutive years (as you see right now with the Nets or Bulls). Revenues and share price hold when the team is contending for the playoffs. Currently, they make $850 per head for every game (~ $20M per game). If they finish out of the playoff for 3-4 consecutive years, the gate falls by 50%, and newer shareholders lose 40% of their investment. In other words, you don’t trade away Kuminga, Podziemski and Trace Jackson-Davis — all of whom you control for the next 5-8 years — to improve a team that will lose Steph and Draymond to retirement in 2-3 years.
Third, as Lakob has also said when discussing Markkanen and Paul George, trading for either of those players would not improve the Warriors enough in the short-term (i.e., this season and the next) if that required trading away other key contributors. Kuminga and Podziemski were the best players last year after Draymond and Steph, and, not only do they project to be better this year, but they are still being paid on rookie contracts. The Warriors seek to add a star without losing these players, and both Steph and Draymond have recognized this reality publicly.
The front-office hasn’t stopped trying to acquire another difference-maker. For now, they seek a transaction that allows them to retain their young, inexpensive talent and not go over the apron. After this season, they’ll have more flexibility.
Good stuff and I’m starting to think you & I need our own blog to talk about certain NBA topics lol.
As for Golden State’s heirarchy in their own front office, I’ll tkae your word on what you’re telling me. From afar it looks like GS has been extremely more successful while Meyers was in that position than it has been during MDJ’s time but I do admit that Dunleavy Jr hasn’t been in that role for long and things could improve for the franchise.
Again, there’s a but there, from what you’re saying neither guy really deserves any responsibility for their success. At that point while you’re making it sound like Lakob and his sons deserve more of the credit, then they also deserve more of the blame especially if their product is dependent on playoff success like you mention in your second thought below.
GS front office deserves a ton of credit for drafting and developing HOF talents like Steph,Klay & Dray and also for a myriad of other great free agent/trade decision ranging from the high end in KD and a lesser degree Iggy, to a long list of very good role players throughout the years like West, Livingston & Wiggins to name a few. After that HOF trio though is a long list of players that haven’t developed as hoped over the years with Wiseman being the complete bust. I’m still skeptical on Kuminga but he was more of a long term project imo.
I do get what you’re saying in your third thought and when I’m repeating that GS needs to do something, anything, to prolong their time as a contender where he’s still able to carry the team playing at an elite level. Honestly, that’s just the fan in me not wanting to see his greatness go out with whimper.
Finding superstar talent is so hard in this league and to find someone with GOAT level talent is even harder. Like I mentioned above I’ve watched so many great “once in a lifetime” type runs from quite a few different teams in different sports. If there’s one thing that is obvious there its that those teams need to wring those situations for as much as they can because they don’t come around often. Steph’s days are numbered and of course teams always need to stick with their long term plan if they have one but its also ok to make decisions to prolong their run.
Just look at the Dubs history going back the past 40ish years to see what I’m talking about. The Warriors had a great run during the Rick Barry era culminating in a Finals win in 74/75, then their playoff success was minimal to none existent until after drafting Run TMC. They never won anything of consequence but as a core they were so much fun to watch. Once their era ended in GS it was back to a long era of bad teams until Steph, Klay & Dray were drafted. You could say that that the Warriors franchise has recently peaked and back on their way down again and my point is just milk that thing already, do what you gotta do to keep it going lol. I think over time Kuminga & Pods could become all star caliber players but that may not happen before Steph’s done.
Lastly, to your first thought. What you’re describing with what GS is currently undertaking in getting under the apron to avoid the repeater penalties and having a specific amount of time to do so is why I’m not to worried about Boston’s immediate to near future. Like GS they have that long term plan and know roughly there’s a certain point in the future when they’ll need to start making the really tough decisions but again, I have in that front office. Certain players will become expendable at a certain point like Jrue & AL’s ages catching up to them or KP’s legs. I have zero worry over Boston needing to move on from Tatum, Brown or White, ever, unless one of the three ask out. Good talk!
Trade Payton, Waters, Cash, draft rights, future considerations and a 2nd rd pick for a veteran C.
Chicago Vooch?
Waive Spencer sign Post
For Davey, of Moody Klay and Podz, klay and podz 39% from deep last year. Distant 3rd was ………Moody.
Warriors were 46-36 last year with a roster that was older.
They got rid of 3 washed up players Paul, Thompson and Saric and replaced them with younger players like Anderson, Hield and Melton.
Combined with the rest of the younger roster plus Curry and Green, I don’t see how Warriors can’t win 50 plus games next season. They improved their roster.