Ahead of the 2020/21 season, John Hollinger of the Athletic wondered if the Kings will be able to move the contracts of shooting guard Buddy Hield and forward Harrison Barnes, and whether or not Sacramento would be able to surround newly-extended point guard De’Aaron Fox with enough help to reach the playoffs.
New Kings GM Monte McNair has expressed a desire to give Fox similarly-aged teammates. Hield is currently in the first season of his four-year, $94MM extension, which declines over each year, while Barnes has three years and $61MM left on his deal. Moving at least one of those players for assets could help in McNair’s quest to find players who align with Fox’s timeline.
There’s more out of California:
- The Athletic’s Bill Oram and Joe Vardon explore the process last summer that ultimately led to the Lakers hiring Frank Vogel as their head coach in 2019 and the Clippers promoting Tyronn Lue to their head coaching job this year. Vogel had expected to be a top assistant on Lue’s staff with the latter serving as head coach for the Lakers in May of 2019 when negotiations between the Lakers and Lue fell apart. The Lakers would not budge from a three-year, $18MM offer, while Lue was hoping to receive closer to a five-year, $35MM deal. Lue ultimately pivoted to become the lead assistant on the staff of then-Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. Lue assumed the head job this offseason.
- Though the Warriors may have gotten soundly defeated by the Nets in their season opener, No. 2 draft pick James Wiseman flashed plenty of potential in his NBA debut, according to Marcus Thompson II of the Athletic. The rookie center scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds in just 24 minutes. “He’s a presence,” star point guard Stephen Curry said, “and I think he showed exactly how he can open up the floor for me in the middle of those pick-and-rolls and put pressure on the rim.”
- Warriors small forward Andrew Wiggins is hoping to be more aggressive on offense in Golden State’s Christmas bout against the Bucks, per Anthony Slater of the Athletic. “Shoot, I hope I find that flow next game,” Wiggins said. “I’m not trying to wait. I’m trying to get after it and get it as soon as possible.”
James Wiseman is the future of the NBA.
When? They’re going to have to blow up the team in 2022 because of its gargantuan payroll so it will take years to become competitive again.
Bro they’re okay with spending money. Can’t you see that?
When one guy went down they brought in another one and it cost 134 million dollars to do so. And that’s without any kind of a guarantee of success, but they did it anyway !! When are you going to be able to understand this?
But you seem to be an enthusiastic basketball fan so I won’t give up hope on you. But I’ll say it here one more time for clarification.
THE WARRIORS DON’T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY’RE SPENDING.
Get it?
In fact when I do lose heart in your ability to understand this concept I’m going to copy and paste a standard answer every time you bring up the Warriors astronomical spending. It will be this.
“You have no clue.”
I’m not sure when that will be… one day or one month from now, but I have it copied and ready to go whenever that does happen.
The future is now, and the Rockets are going to lose to Golden State every year, they even got worked by Draymond by himself last Christmas when he was checked out for every other game, haha. Death, taxes, and the Rockets losing to the Warriors, you love to see it.
Look, I don’t know where you are getting this “something bad will happen if the Warriors don’t stop spending money” narrative you seem to think exists, when it categorically does not. Joe Lacob has clearly stated he will always spend the maximum amount of money as feasibly allowed to make the Warriors the best they can be. This fact is not landing with you for some reason. The Warriors spending means absolutely nothing, not now, not ever. It only will matter if they get hard capped again, but they might know how to plan better for next time after last season.
Getting the elite superstar James Wiseman for cheap to add to Steph means the Warriors home grew yet another of their own elite duos, to add to Steph/Klay, Klay/Dray and Steph/Dray. Pretty much all other big duos are store-bought. This is why you can’t question any of their moves, because it leads to dynasties.
Being cheap makes players mad. Throwing all the money on the table to win is what gains respect. Can you finally understand that Joe Lacob is the best owner in pro sports for this very reason, and that the Rockets (and many more) owners need to act more like him?
It’s only been 1 game but golden state looked like total dog shtt, even with wiseman playing well. Money can get you a lot but highest payroll does not equal a ring.
Little dunker I agree. They did not look very good opening night. Their offense needs help but I think their defense will be okay. I just have to remember that this is almost a whole new Squad playing together the first time plus the rust of not playing since last April or so. Hopefully it’ll come together and they’ll make the playoffs. They have enough Talent that it should happen.
@Little_Dunker_45 yes, they played terribly and will probably start the season 5-10, before storming into the playoffs once they gel together.
Do you honestly think this team that has never played together and is learning each others games on fly is going to beat a Nets team that was at full strength and was waiting a year for KD? On top of that, can you imagine being KD having to take a year off then spending all that time waiting for this moment? Its KD – of course not, of course he went full slim reaper on opening night. Luckily opening night results don’t matter – the playoffs matter. The Warriors will get destroyed by the Bucks today too, then Draymond comes back and they can start figuring out how to win with Steph/Wiseman as the best two players, which is another new thing they need to adjust in-season in this weird season.
I see GSW finishing about 5-8 in the West but making the WCF and maybe even the finals if Wiseman decides he’s the new Lebron or Giannis, which will be called “miraculous” by those who relentlessly refuse to respect Curry and Golden State.
Nothing to worry about, if healthy the Nets are the best team in the East and they were at full strength, the Bucks are the second best team in the east same deal. Let’s all wait until the midseason before making any kinds of claims about the Warriors year, ok?
Warriors have a tough first half schedule so they probably get off to a slow start. facing 2 of the 3 toughest east coast teams the first 2 games is expected to be 0-2. Looking at the schedules you can see some uneven schedules. So the first half should be tough on them. The second half will be against many of the easiest teams in the league. I wonder if the NBA did this because the warriors tanked last year to get a good draft pick.
Warriors have a tough first half schedule so they probably get off to a slow start. facing 2 of the 3 toughest east coast teams the first 2 games is expected to be 0-2. Looking at the schedules you can see some uneven schedules. So the first half should be tough on them. The second half will be against many of the easiest teams in the league. I wonder if the NBA did this because the warriors tanked last year to get a good draft pick.
You guys are so dumb with this
money talk. Golden State isn’t hurting for money or will feel any need to blow up the roster. The owner doesn’t care. You’re so misinformed I’m embarrassed for you.
@Roxannoying fan…
Every team owner must wanna loose money, they shouldn’t own a team if they wanna make money, get it?
Can’t be easier than that, is like celebs giving millions to charity, it cost them nothin’ as they get it off their taxes… when they make hundreds of millions in other ventures & loose a few million with their team it reduces their taxes, so they pay less to the taxman, but it cost them personally nothin’, hence overspending is the way to go… if only frittata would get it!
@El Don gets it! Nice to see someone who isnt delusional or just mindlessly hating on an owner who spends money on his team because its his team and he wants to win.
You can have all the players want to win as much as possible, but if the owner is looking at the finances and not W-L, then you have no chance.
To be fair, the warriors don’t have tubby superstars as a problem unlike another team
It’s odd that the Warriors are only really missing one more legit shooter – they should get Kyle Korver, but tbh Harden sure does fit GSW right now.
I respect g state, but as a Canadian it was awesome seeing the raps win their first title the last game the ever played in their old stadium
The rockets dude I respect too, hes a die hard fan that clearly is embracing his rep and gets a kick out of getting you all riled up, I love it because it’s clearly working Haha
I’m a Celtics lifer but also a huge fan of James harden for the record, you all can suck it
the dude prefers fiction it seems even when truth is available. Fun-drug use can do that to you.
The dude@ yes it was good to see the Raptors win the title. Kawhi was a superstar for them got them over the hump. It was good for the league, good for Canada and much the same way when LeBron brought the championship to Cleveland. It was good for the city and good for the league.
By the way I was born in Victoria and grew up there 14 years. Hockey was my first love then moved to the states and switch to basketball. I never spent time on the East Coast just a BC boy.
Haha so you’re MASSIVELY biased here. That’s fine, enjoy the ring, but the Craptors winning a chip made the league worse and ruined Steph’s chance to move ahead of LeBron. Hate to break it to you, but expansion teams winning titles is terrible for all pro sports leagues in general, just look at what the Marlins winning has done to MLB. Injuries to KD and Klay are the only reasons why Toronto won and you know it. Im biased the other way though! Still have 3 rings, its fine, could have so easily been 5 though. GSW truly is that dominant a franchise, Toronto are 1-year wonders who got gifted Leonard who hated being there. But Wiseman is about to complete the prophecy of GSW turning into the 90s/00s Spurs by turning into Tim Duncan or better.
Marty this post ^ is in the wrong column. It’s like you’re blasting poor oft-injured Warrior semi-insider Gary.
They’re giving posters a chance to edit now.
BTW everybody’s team came oh-so-close to additional titles.
Oh wow I didn’t take it that way I thought he was blasting someone else but I guess he is blasting me for being Canadian and glad for the Raptors and still a Warriors fan. Okay I see it now. I didn’t think I was biased. I’m happy for the country and for the city of Toronto to win the ring just like I was Cleveland. But I’m not from Cleveland? Am I biased towards Cleveland as well? I guess it didn’t make sense.
Yeah so if you read the post below it looks like Marty is ripping the dude again. Not me ?
I dont know man, telling lies to “get people riled up” just for personal enjoyment is a form of mental illness and should not be tolerated.
Look, be a homer if you want (you shouldnt, your fave team doesnt care about you), but don’t come in here spouting nonsense like “the warriors are going to be in big trouble if they dont go into rebuild/tear down mode” – they have Steph, Klay, Dray and Wiseman – thats a championship core whether rockets fans like it or not and the window is not closed. If Minnesota is terrible this year, GSW will get a top 5 pick no matter where they finish, and next years draft will have way more than 3 legit stars in it (Wiseman, Haliburton and Avdija only the 3 players who are going to be stars from that draft)
“… McNair’s quest to find players who align with Fox’s timeline.”
Timeline?— New GM McNair’s goal did have quest-misty questionable results.
Hollinger has a ranking system, by position, called BORD.
Fox, 10; Hield, 30; Barnes, 39; Bagley, 51; Holmes, 28; (and a problem going on for 2 years is that backup Bjelica is 17th!)
Hield and Barnes are the best players at their positions. As much as I have advocated not getting stuck with that in the first place, there it is. McNair did nothing about it in the offseason. They have about three years left on their contracts.
Drafting Haliburton meant not matching Bogans at $18mil.
They’re in limbo.
The contracts are in decline. If Buddy gets to minutes and Barnes can keep the Nuggets score at 15+, the players will gain in value. Why now sacrifice them . I am for added value
Harden,NWaba, McLemore,House to kings…Hield,Barnes & picks to rockets…
Okey, but Haliburton and Fox starting and Harden becomes 10 minutes from the bench
Remember the Warriors gave Klay’s $9.3 million exception. They want t to hold it to mid-season so they can acquire a $18.6 million type of Veteran player. So, this is not the final team.
Have
Just watched The Warriors and the Bucks. The Warriors goose is cooked.
For some reason no one can make a shot. Short training camp? Kerrs been running them too hard no legs left? I don’t know. Every one had a short Camp though. I guess you can’t expect guys who aren’t jump Shooters suddenly become jump shooters. And I guess you need jump shooters so the wings have room to operate.
Then there’s Andrew Wiggins. He just seems like when you want to count on him he lets you down but then the next play when you’re down by 25 he makes an incredible drive to the basket spin and beautiful lay up. You look up he’s got 18 points but as I said you’re down 25 and he’s 4-17.
Wiggins always looks better than the results. I saw him in HS and he was so smooth, even around the rim, but I didn’t see defense. IDK how he got the predraft rep for D.
Thing is the Warrior way was not apparent today so there is nothing for Wigs to pick up on like Kerr & fans hoped. Wiseman probably has a better grasp of how Giannis does it by watching him on TV… he could have been 12 or so, wondering “why doesn’t everyone do that”
So is this how the Warriors are going to look the rest of the season? No shooting, defense not enough to cover for it and win games or even stay in games and make them close?
Am I already cashing in and looking towards next season? Have to tell you watching tonight’s game I’m thinking about it. The Minnesota pick will be a good one, our team sucks so we’ll keep our own pick and it’ll be top 15, get Klay back. That’s three good players added to the roster. Then dump some of this crap at the trading deadline for pics anyone want Pascal or Wiggins or Kelly oubre Jr. We’ll take a pic for them.