Golden State Warriors Rumors | Hoops Rumors

NBA Sets Salary Cap For 2018/19

June 30th, 2018 at 7:26pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has set the salary cap for the 2018/19 league year, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the cap will be $101,869,000. The luxury tax threshold will be $123,733,000, Charania adds. Meanwhile, the minimum salary floor will be $91,682,000, according to the NBA.

The finalized cap figure comes in just slightly higher than what we expected. For virtually the entire 2017/18 league year, the NBA had projected that the cap for next season would be $101MM, with a luxury tax line of $123MM. The official figures are slightly higher than that, which is good news for teams looking to maximize their cap room, as well as clubs headed for tax territory.

As we detailed earlier this week, many other cap figures, including minimum and maximum salaries and several exceptions, are tied to the percentage of the salary cap increase. Here are some in-depth details on those numbers:

Here are a few more key cap-related figures:

Estimated average salary for 2018/19: $8,838,000 (Twitter link via Larry Coon)
Maximum starting salary for certain veteran extensions: $10,605,600 (Twitter link via Jeff Siegel)
Maximum cash a team can send, receive in trades in 2018/19: $5,243,000 (Twitter link via Coon)
Tax apron: $129,817,000 (Twitter link via Coon)

Meanwhile, the NBA has also issued updated cap projections for the next two seasons, per Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Those projections are as follows:

2019/20: $109MM cap, $132MM tax line
2020/21: $116MM cap, $141MM tax line

According to cap expert Larry Coon (Twitter link), the Cavaliers ($50.7MM), Warriors ($32.3MM), Thunder ($25.4MM), and Wizards ($7MM) finished the 2017/18 season as taxpayers, while the Bulls ($3.4MM) and Mavericks ($3.3MM) were charged for finishing below the salary floor.

Warriors Not Interested In Dwight

June 30th, 2018 at 2:03pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Warriors are likely to carry only 14 players heading into the season, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). The move would save the team money against the luxury tax and leave the organization with room to add a player during the season. Slater notes that the pair of players it signs under two-way deals can fill-in for minutes if needed.

The Warriors insist they are not interested in signing Dwight Howard once the center reaches a buyout with the Nets, Marc Stein of The New York Times writes. Charlotte dealt the big man to Brooklyn after one uninspiring season with the club.

Kevin Durant To Give Warriors Another Discount?

June 30th, 2018 at 1:41pm CST by clarkcrum

When the Warriors and Kevin Durant agreed to a discounted contract last offseason – $51.3MM over two seasons with a player option in year two – there was reportedly an understanding between the two parties that Durant would seek a contract more in line with his value this offseason.

However, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, there are now rumblings that Durant, who becomes an unrestricted free agent tonight after choosing not to exercise his $26.3MM player option for next season, is leaning towards signing another two-year contract with a player option in year two, commonly known as a “1+1” deal.

Because the Warriors hold Durant’s Early Bird rights and not his full Bird rights, the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement would only allow a contract starting with an estimated maximum salary of $35.35MM if the deal is at least two seasons long. And, under the CBA, a “1+1” contract does not qualify as a two-year contract under these circumstances.

Accordingly, Durant would only be eligible for a starting salary of $30MM – 120% of his 2017/18 salary of $25MM – should he choose to sign another “1+1” deal. Such an agreement would use his Non-Bird rights, and would allow him to reach the open market again in 2019. At that point, he’d have full Bird rights and would qualify for a five-year max deal.

Slater adds that if Durant were to take less money again, it would save the Warriors “a ton” in tax money, which would increase the likelihood that the Warriors use the full value of their taxpayer MLE – estimated to be $5.3MM – in free agency.

Warriors Interested In Jordan, Mavs Remain Favorites

June 30th, 2018 at 8:50am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Warriors intend to make a run at Clippers center DeAndre Jordan in free agency despite their salary-cap restrictions, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.

Jordan would have to accept their $5.3MM taxpayer mid-level exception, a huge drop from the $24.1MM he left on the table when he decided to opt out on Friday. While Jordan’s salary would be modest, such a move would wind up costing the Warriors closer to $27MM due to luxury taxes, Stein notes (Twitter link). Jordan is close friends with Kevin Durant and a former client of Golden State GM Bob Myers.

Dropping Jordan, one of the league’s premier rebounders, into the Warriors’ starting five would complete a star-studded lineup and ensure they’d be championship favorites once again no matter where LeBron James winds up.

Jordan would have to sacrifice a boatload of money for the opportunity to chase a ring. The Mavericks have made Jordan their top priority and have approximately $28MM to offer him. That makes Dallas a strong favorite to land him, Stein adds (Twitter link).

The chances of Jordan returning to the Clippers, as he did during his last free agent foray in 2015, seem remote. The team even tweeted a ‘Thank You, DeAndre!’ after his opt-out decision. They acquired veteran center Marcin Gortat from the Wizards earlier this week.

Warriors One Of Several Suitors For Jamal Crawford

June 29th, 2018 at 12:37pm CST by Luke Adams

We heard on Thursday that multiple Warriors players are lobbying for the front office to go after Jamal Crawford in free agency, but Golden State isn’t the only team that will kick the tires on the veteran scorer. According to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the Pelicans, Sixers, Cavaliers, and Nuggets are also expected to show interest in Crawford, who is focusing on finding the right fit.

Warriors Unlikely To Pursue Michael Beasley

June 29th, 2018 at 11:33am CST by Luke Adams

As for Beasley, while a return to the Knicks is possible, sources tell Berman that the Trail Blazers, Hawks, and Bucks are among the other teams that could have interest. The Warriors have also internally discussed the possibility of offering Beasley a minimum-salary deal, but it doesn’t look like they’ll do so, Berman adds.

[SOURCE LINK]

Warriors Stars Lobbying For Jamal Crawford

June 28th, 2018 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

Multiple Warriors stars are lobbying for the front office to pursue – and sign – Jamal Crawford, reports Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. Crawford, who spent 2017/18 with the Timberwolves, turned down his player option for next season, and will reach the open market.

According to Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant are among the players who have pushed for the Warriors to go after Crawford. Stephen Curry is on board too, as are multiple assistant coaches, Thompson notes.

While Bob Myers‘ level of interest in Crawford is unclear, the support within the organization for the veteran shooting guard will be enough to get the Warriors GM on the phone with Crawford’s agent – Aaron Goodwin – when free agency begins this weekend, says Thompson. The club would be able to offer Crawford a minimum-salary contract or part or all of the taxpayer mid-level exception, which will start at about $5.3MM.

As Thompson observes, Crawford may not be an ideal fit for a Warriors team looking to get younger, but his willingness to let shots fly is a key trait on a squad featuring so many other stars. With Durant, Curry, and Klay Thompson receiving increased attention from opposing defenses, the Warriors want role players who won’t be afraid to shoot the ball when they have open looks, and Crawford certainly fits that bill.

Crawford, 38, has averaged 15.0 PPG with a .349 3PT% in 1,262 career regular season contests. With Minnesota in 2017/18, those numbers slipped to 10.3 PPG and .331 3PT%.

Will Warriors Use Mid-Level Exception?

June 28th, 2018 at 10:21am CST by Luke Adams

With no cap room available this summer, the mid-level exception represents the Warriors‘ best chance of signing a free agent who can become a part of the club’s rotation. However, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic details, it’s not a lock that Golden State will use its full taxpayer MLE, which figures to be worth approximately $5.3MM in 2018/19.

“It depends,” general manager Bob Myers said earlier this week when asked about the possibility of using that mid-level exception. “[Warriors owner] Joe [Lacob] has always shown a high level of aggressiveness. So if it makes sense for us and if it helps us win, he’s always said yes. But that’ll be the markers that have to be met.”

Because the Warriors project to be well over the luxury-tax threshold next season, a player signed using the MLE figures to cost exponentially more than $5.3MM due to the tax penalties. So if the Dubs do use the exception, they’ll want to do it on a player who they feel is worth a $15-20MM investment. Avery Bradley, Tyreke Evans, Trevor Ariza, Will Barton, and J.J. Redick are some potential targets mentioned by Slater, though those players figure to receive larger offers on the open market.

Warriors Extend Qualifying Offer To Patrick McCaw

June 26th, 2018 at 6:15pm CST by clarkcrum

The Warriors have extended a qualifying offer to swingman Patrick McCaw, per Chris Haynes of ESPN, putting McCaw on track for restricted free agency come July 1.

McCaw’s qualifying offer is worth $1.7MM, calculated by adding $200K to his projected minimum salary for the upcoming 2018/19 season.

Given McCaw’s recent injury and an all-around difficult 2017/18 campaign, it will be interesting to see whether the Warriors are interested in discussing a larger contract for McCaw moving forward and/or whether McCaw will garner any interest from other teams around the league.

McCaw, 22, only averaged 4.o points per game in 57 games with Golden State this past season, with a relatively pedestrian shooting line of .503/.238/.765.

JaVale McGee Hopes To Remain With Warriors

June 26th, 2018 at 10:58am CST by Arthur Hill

JaVale McGee will be a free agent for the third straight summer, but the Warriors’ center said he doesn’t want to play anywhere else, relays Chris Haynes of ESPN. The 30-year-old has collected a pair of rings during his two seasons with Golden State and he would like to come back for more.

“I haven’t thought about [another team] mainly because, hopefully, in my mind, I’m a Warrior for the rest of my career,” he said. “If that happens, it would be a blessing.”

McGee’s numbers this season weren’t impressive — 4.8 PPG and 2.6RPG in 9.5 minutes — but his production increased when coach Steve Kerr made him a starter after the All-Star break. McGee held that job on and off throughout the playoffs, but turned out to be a difference maker in the Finals. He was 14 of 17 from the field against the Cavaliers, turning in a 12-point performance in Game 2 and a 10-point outing in Game 3.

McGee played on a veteran’s minimum contract worth $2.1MM this season and can expect a similar deal if he returns. The Warriors will be well into luxury tax territory after re-signing Kevin Durant and will take a severe hit with any contract above the minimum.

Golden State has other free agents to address in David West, Zaza Pachulia, Kevon Looney, Patrick McCaw and Nick Young. Kerr has also expressed a desire for a younger and more versatile bench, so there’s no guarantee that re-signing McGee is part of the Warriors’ plans.

“I don’t know how [free agency] is going to turn out, but it’s going to obviously be a long one, especially with everybody waiting for LeBron [James] and Kawhi [Leonard],” McGee said. “So, you never know what pieces will fall and who needs who. But I want to be back with the Warriors. This is where I want to be.”