Rather than gearing up for another deep playoff run as the 2019/20 season enters its home stretch, the Warriors‘ decision-makers already have their sights set on this summer’s draft and the free agent period. While the team would rather be in the mix for another title, Warriors owner Joe Lacob tells Mark Medina of USA Today that the club is making the most of the opportunity to regroup and evaluate the roster going forward.
“The great thing about this is we can reimagine the next dynasty,” Lacob told Medina during All-Star weekend. “I think it’s been a good year for us to take stock with where we’re at and try to recreate.”
At 12-43, the Warriors are well out of playoff contention and approached this month’s trade deadline as sellers. Having given up six players, including D’Angelo Russell, Golden State received Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves’ top-three protected 2021 first-round pick, and five future second-round selections. The club also slipped below the luxury tax line, avoiding a more punitive repeater-taxpayer penalty.
Replacing Russell with Wiggins should give Golden State’s roster better balance when injured stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return. Avoiding the tax and re-stocking their collection of draft picks will give the Warriors more options during the offseason as president of basketball operations Bob Myers and the front office weigh potential roster upgrades.
The Dubs also have a trade exception worth $17MM+ and are on track to secure a top-five draft pick. Lacob is optimistic that all those assets will be more than enough to help the Warriors return to contention.
“You add one guy and it can change everything,” Lacob told Medina. “We already happen to have two of the greatest shooters of all time. Look at the games. We’ve only been losing by six or eight points. But add those two guys, and we’re already pretty good. I think Wiggins is going to help a lot.”
They need to build a deeper bench this off season like they had when they were good. The scrubs they have now won’t cut it in a playoff run.
Agreed but I think it will be harder to do so, this time. The Warriors aren’t as attractive as they were previously since they will no longer be the only top tier team in the league. Consequently, I doubt they will attract solid veteran ring chasers which helped them build a deep bench.
I think if they make another trade for an allstar or two by trading Wiggins and the picks. Maybe not as attractive as the Lakers or Clippers but up there again.
I think playing with steph and klay is still pretty damn attractive to a lot of guys
Steph, Dray, and Klay are also more expensive than they were 4 years ago. A lot less cap room available for the bench.
Way more expensive.
They’re making $100M next season, while 4 years ago the three of them combined made less than Curry is now.
If they land Wiseman in the draft and use that 17 million exception, they are going to be a really deep and talented team again!! Trading for a player like Derozan or Gallinari would be huge
You think they’d wait for him to develop or get an allstar from a rebuilding team? If they’re really in win now mode, the latter is more attractive, but if they were to play the long game then maybe develop, make the playoffs the next year and then go all in once everyone is back at 100, bearing no more serious injuries..
Golden State is stuck in limbo just like OKC was a year ago. They can go for broke and try to compete in 2021, or if they’re smart they can do what the Thunder did when they traded away Paul George and Westbrook.
NO!
Gallo at PF
Diamond at C
Warriors can trade TE for Memphis big man
Great offensively, but don’t you think that leaves them another hole defensively?
NO!
Man how about you can envision the next championship team, so the guy wants 3 chips. Easy
Can they aggregate $13 million in salary, picks, and the $17 million TPE and take a max contract back?
NO!
No, if the TPE is used, it’ll have to be on a player (or multiple players) making no more than about $17.2MM.
Luke, this might be a dumb question.
I know you can’t add the TEs and the $17mil one is the big one but can you make other trades using the other smaller TEs? They have several
Yes, though the rest of their TPEs are pretty small — I think the second-biggest one is $2.2MM. It could be used to acquire a player, but at that low salary level, you’re probably just looking at guys on late-first-round rookie contracts or long-term minimum-salary contracts.
Got it. I appreciate the quick response
What kind of spending spree are people expecting here? The Warriors are already $8M over the luxury tax with $130M tied up in their top four players. If they add another player making $17M plus whatever a high lottery pick makes, they will be paying well in excess of $50M in luxury taxes next year.
From the article above:
“The club also slipped below the luxury tax line, avoiding a more punitive repeater-taxpayer penalty.”
Looks like they’ll probably face luxury tax next year though but not a repeater tax.
I was referring to next year when I said they’re already $8M over the luxury tax (in 2020-21). Sorry if that wasn’t obvious.
It wasn’t
Btw, warriors won in 2015 with curry Thompson green and barnes, all drafted. And added parts.
Harden Westbrook? What year did Houston draft them? Is that year in your harden-westbrook-mvps name? I’m not seeing it. Is it obvious?
17 mill on the TPE they can spread out for a few players and they also have the 6 million mid level. Two top 5 draft picks the next 2 years. Money isn’t an issue to the Warriors, I know it’s hard to fathom considering your a sorry Rockets fan.
Stay true warriors fan don’t be a fan only when we’re winning. Losing brings future good news in learning and building which makes it exciting to watch them bond as a team. Good times will return as winning again!!!