In the days and weeks leading up to last week’s trade deadline, there was some skepticism that the Warriors would actually trade D’Angelo Russell. Even though the point guard didn’t necessarily look like a long-term fit in Golden State, it seemed likely that the club would want to wait at least until the offseason to fully weigh the trade market for Russell. That would have given him a chance to play alongside Stephen Curry, who is aiming to return from his hand injury in March.
However, the Warriors decided to act sooner rather than later, sending Russell to the Timberwolves for a package that included Andrew Wiggins, a first-round pick, and an opportunity to get out of luxury-tax territory this season. Speaking to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic about the deal, Warriors owner Joe Lacob suggested the club didn’t think it could’ve done better if it waited until the summer.
“We got what we wanted,” Lacob said. “I think if I would’ve bet before the trade deadline, I probably would’ve said we would’ve re-evaluated in the summer, gone through the whole year. But we were fortunate. We got what we wanted, and we did it.”
Lacob offered up a few more interesting comments about the trade and the Warriors’ plans going forward. If you have an Athletic subscription, the conversation is worth checking out in full, but here are some of the highlights:
On the deal being a win/win for the Warriors and Timberwolves:
“Anybody who can’t see that this is a great deal for us, I don’t know what they’re thinking. You can sit and talk about what his salary is, but (Wiggins) had the same salary as D-Lo. They’re both good players. They’re different players. You can question whether this is a better fit; we think it is, as much as I liked D-Lo. He’s a really good player. And I think it’s good for him, too. So it’s a fair, good thing for both teams.”
On why the Warriors wanted to get below the tax line this season:
“Here’s the deal: When you are competing for a championship, I’ve always said we’re going to pay the tax. … But when you’re not winning this year and you’ve got … as good as those players were for us, they’re (expiring contracts after this season), it just didn’t make sense. So I think getting out of the tax so we could get out of the repeater (tax) next year … it’s not about the money. It’s more about the opportunity this summer to flush out our roster that’s the best possible roster for next year.”
On whether the Warriors will be willing to use their mid-level exception and $17MM+ trade exception in the summer, increasing payroll well beyond the tax threshold:
“Yes, I’m talking about mid-level exception, I’m talking about trade exception, any of the possibilities. Doesn’t mean we will, doesn’t mean we’ll be able to, but we have the opportunity, we have the chance to do that now.
“… It’s going to be the highest payroll we’ve ever had next year. We know that. The question is how high. If there’s a trade-exception (deal) that we really want, that’s worth it, let’s consider it. Mid-level exception? Very likely to use. The first pick in the draft, if we were to get that? With luxury tax, (that contract would be) huge.
“Really, the emphasis is on next year. The next two years, our window — Steph’s last two years under contract, before we hopefully bring him back again — we need to field the best possible team we can. That was the emphasis.”
They already have $130M committed to Steph, Klay, Wiggins, and Green next season and the luxury tax starts at $139M. So if they use the $17M trade exception plus the MLE, it looks like the Warriors will be paying tens of millions more in luxury taxes again even after they managed to avoid paying this year.
Yeah but they aren’t dirt cheap like Fertitta so they’ll pay it.
And that tens of millions would be a hundred million if not for getting under.
Imagine being so pathetic to actually write this and act like its some kind of L. Houston and its fans should be banned from talking forever.
Ohhh noooo, billionaire owners have to pay 0.0000000001% of their income! What a tragedy!!!!
Why do you seem to despise all professional sports franchise owners? Without them the leagues don’t exist.
Yes thats the plan.. whatever it takes to, um.. WIN.
Warriors definitely will be a favorite next year
They’re better set for next year, trading away a player that is likely not a fit anyway. They were going to check & make sure but there are higher priorities.
A $17M trade excemption and a high draft pick is a bunch of leverage.
Has a Capela deal written all over it.
That would give them the 2 year window Maxed Out.
Time will tell on that one.
would the hawks trade capela after just obtaining him?
Can see Boogie making his way back there. Some of the buyout guys/waived guys. Evan Turner. They will end up with more rounded players on their bench than say the Sixers could ever.
Of course they got what they wanted, and, based on the market (one team), waiting presented a negative risk/reward. The basics of their Russell S&T adventure are still in place. They’ve preserved the 4th max slot going forward. They got under the tax line this year, huge because of repeater penalties. They recovered the draft capital they gave up to do the S&T, and probably improved it.
The only negative is Wiggins or, more specifically, his contract. He’ll have to improve to be even of neutral value in a deal for another max player, and greatly improve to add value to such a deal. Of course, if he does that, then they have no reason to swap him out for another max player. As they pointed out, he’s a fit, so they only reason to more him would be to upgrade.
You explained everything perfectly. Exactly the plan. Let’s just hope Wiggins can be that tremendous wing. Yet, all that’s expected is the fourth option on offense. But if you need a bucket… a skilled Wing ball-handler to get to the hole, Wiggins is your man. He can kick to a shooter when defense colapses.
If you can contend for a Title. You gladly pay the tax. Warriors healthy with 2020 pick. Good young talent on roster. Can compete next 3 yrs. If they get Wiseman. I consider them the favorites. Wiggins only 24. He can go off with Klay n Curry there. He will become a better all around player. Like Durant did. Do not count Warriors out. Plenty of basketball left. I’m not a fan, respect
Warriors will not be a clear top 3 team in the west next year, but to write them off as non contenders (And that their window is closed) is ridiculous…