Kerr Says Back Issues Have Subsided
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr believes he’s made significant progress from his prior back issues, Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area relays. Kerr spoke of his health during a Tim Kawakami podcast. “I work every day — I do a lot of stuff to make sure I’m staying on the improving path,” he said. “The worst is behind me … when I had to sit out in the (2017) playoffs, that was a brutally difficult time and I wasn’t sure what was gonna happen. I think all of that is behind me and I’m looking at much better days.” Kerr’s interview with Kawakami from The Athletic can be found here.
Patrick McCaw Passes On Qualifying Offer
Restricted free agent guard Patrick McCaw is expected to decline his one-year, $1.71MM qualifying offer from the Warriors, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
If that comes to fruition, McCaw would remain an RFA. McCaw was reportedly offered a two-year contract from the Warriors but also plans to turn that down. The previous report indicted it was a $4MM offer but ESPN’s Marc Spears tweets that Golden State proposed a two-year deal worth approximately $5MM with the second year not guaranteed.
McCaw had an October 1st deadline to sign the qualifying offer.
By NBA rules, teams are permitted to extend the qualifying offer deadline beyond that date, so the Warriors could leave McCaw’s QO on the table. However, clubs rarely agree to push back that deadline, since removing the qualifying offer from the equation improves a team’s leverage, limiting the restricted free agent’s options.
His qualifying offer is worth $200K more than his minimum salary of $1.51MM. He’s apparently willing to roll the dice with the hope that Golden State will let him go. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets, McCaw could drag out the process and force the Warriors to move on without him, hoping they won’t match offer sheet once his roster spot is committed to someone else.
The Warriors have been holding a spot open for McCaw, who struggled during his sophomore season in 2017/18. In 57 games (16.9 MPG), the former second-round pick averaged 4.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG with a .409/.238/.765 shooting line.
McCaw is the only restricted free agent left on the market.
Qualifying Offer Deadline Looms For Patrick McCaw
8:30pm: McCaw plans to turn down the two-year offer, Marc Spears of ESPN tweets.
7:21pm: McCaw is mulling a two-year, $4MM offer from the Warriors, Logan Murdock of the San Jose Mercury News reports. The team’s offer will still stand even after Monday deadline, Murdock adds.
9:23am: Today is October 1, which means it will likely be the last day for Patrick McCaw to accept his qualifying offer from the Warriors. If McCaw doesn’t sign his qualifying offer – or another deal – today, he would remain a restricted free agent, but he’d no longer have that QO as a fallback option.
By NBA rules, teams are permitted to extend the qualifying offer deadline beyond October 1, so the Warriors could leave McCaw’s QO on the table if they so choose. However, clubs rarely agree to push back that deadline, since removing the qualifying offer from the equation improves a team’s leverage, limiting the restricted free agent’s options.
In McCaw’s case, his qualifying offer is worth approximately $1.71MM, which is $200K more than his minimum salary of $1.51MM. At this point on the NBA calendar, the 22-year-old shooting guard seems unlikely to receive an offer sheet from a rival team, so if he’s uncertain about his chances of getting a decent multiyear offer from Golden State, it might make sense to accept his QO today.
Still, as Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), because he only has two years of NBA experience under his belt, McCaw is in a tough spot. Unlike players who accept qualifying offers at the end of their four-year rookie contracts – such as Rodney Hood with the Cavaliers – McCaw wouldn’t be on track for unrestricted free agency in 2019 if he signs his QO this season. Instead, he’d be eligible for restricted free agency again next summer.
The Warriors have been holding a roster spot open for McCaw, who struggled during his sophomore season in 2017/18. In 57 games (16.9 MPG), the former second-round pick averaged 4.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG with a .409/.238/.765 shooting line.
McCaw is the only restricted free agent left on the market.
Warriors Notes: Durant, Thompson, Lakers
- Like LeBron James has done in the past, Warriors forward Kevin Durant has decided to sign short-term contracts with opt-outs in order to maximize his flexibility, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I could have easily signed a long-term [contract], but I just wanted to take it season-by-season and see where it takes me,” Durant said earlier this week. The two-time Finals MVP will be eligible for free agency again in 2019, but isn’t talking about that decision at this point.
- Durant’s teammate Klay Thompson will also be eligible for free agency in 2019 and has been more willing to talk about his desire to stay with the Warriors long-term — he reiterated that preference on Thursday, as Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes. “It’s hard to walk away from something — you were here when it started and yeah, you just want to stay on the train as long as you can,” Thompson said.
- After LeBron James spoke earlier this week about the Lakers having a long way to go before they can seriously challenge the Warriors, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com explores what “success” might look like for LeBron’s Lakers, this season and beyond.
DeMarcus Cousins Explains Decision To Sign With Warriors
- Despite having a talented roster, Lakers forward LeBron James knows there’s still plenty of work to do before catching the Warriors. “We got a long way to go to get to Golden State,” James said, according to USA TODAY’s Josh Peter. “They could pick up right where they left off starting with training camp if they start today. We’re picking up from scratch, so we have a long way to go.”
- New Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins published a piece on The Players’ Tribune about why he chose to sign with Golden State this offseason. “It was the best basketball decision I ever made,” Cousins wrote.
Warriors Notes: Thompson, Green, Looney, Dynasty
Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson isn’t particularly excited about becoming a free agent at the end of the season. He doubts he could find a better situation than he’s already in, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets. “Not really. When guys go into free agency, they’re looking for situations like mine. I’m content.” Thompson, who will make a shade under $19MM this season, will be an unrestricted FA unless he signs an extension. Golden State owner Joe Lacob said he’d like to sign Thompson to an extension but nothing is imminent. Thompson deferred all extension questions to his agent, as Nick Friedell of ESPN tweets.
In other news regarding the Warriors:
- Power forward Draymond Green is signed through the 2019/20 season and he anticipates staying with the organization beyond that point, Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News reports. Lacob indicated the organization has also been discussing an extension with Green’s representatives. Green isn’t sure if they’ll come to an agreement but he doesn’t see himself wearing another uniform in the foreseeable future. “I’m confident I’ll be here a very long time,” he said.
- Kevon Looney knows DeMarcus Cousins will be the team’s center once he fully recovers from his Achilles injury, according to the Warriors website post. Looney expects a spirited competition for minutes at that spot until Cousins’ return. “Since I’ve been here we’ve been playing center by committee. That’s what we’re going to do to start the season off. … until he come back we’re going to go out there and do our best and hunt it down,” Looney said.
- With Kevin Durant, Thompson, Cousins and several other players eligible to be free agents after the season and growing payroll concerns, there’s a feeling that the team’s dynasty could soon be coming to an end. Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post takes a closer look at that possibility.
Injury Updates: Porzingis, Booker, Cousins, Neto
Kristaps Porzingis offered an update on his condition at the Knicks‘ Media Day, but there’s still no timetable for him to start playing again, relays the Associated Press.
Porzingis has been doing some light running, but not sprinting, as he continues to recover from a torn ACL he suffered in February. The Knicks are being cautious with the rehab process and don’t want him to return to action until they are sure he is fully ready.
Porzingis adds that he isn’t concerned about getting a contract extension done quickly. He will have to wait until next summer for an extension if a deal isn’t reached before the start of the season.
There’s more injury news to pass along:
- Devin Booker got sutures removed from his right hand last week and is using a splint during workouts, Suns GM Ryan McDonough said today, per Gina Mizell of The Athletic (Twitter link). The team is still hoping Booker can be ready for opening night.
- The Warriors plan to re-evaluate free agent addition DeMarcus Cousins again in four weeks, tweets Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. Team president Bob Myers is happy with the progress Cousins has made, saying, “We won’t rush him. But we also won’t hold him back.”
- Jazz guard Raul Neto has been diagnosed with a right hamstring injury and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, according to a tweet from the team.
- Hawks guard Justin Anderson is still recovering from surgery in late June to address recurring tibial stress syndrome in his left leg and won’t be ready for the start of training camp, the team announced on its website. Dewayne Dedmon will also be held out as he recovers from an avulsion fracture in his left ankle. He is in his second week of weight-bearing rehab work. Daniel Hamilton is taking a non-surgical approach to a torn rotator cuff and his progress will be reviewed in a week. Jeremy Lin has recovered from the ruptured patella tendon that caused him to miss nearly all of last season and will start camp with limited restrictions. Rookie Omari Spellman has soft tissue inflammation in his left shin and will be held out for the next seven to 10 days.
Warriors Hire Mike Dunleavy Jr. As Scout
Mike Dunleavy Jr. will rejoin the Warriors as a pro scout, the team announced on its website.
Dunleavy played 15 NBA seasons, spending the first four and a half with Golden State. He last played for the Hawks at the end of the 2016/17 season.
The addition of Dunleavy was among several moves the Warriors made, including two promotions on the coaching staff. Bruce Fraser has been named an assistant coach and Chris DeMarco will be assistant coach/director of player development.
The team also hired Nick Kerr, son of head coach Steve Kerr, as assistant video coordinator. He previously held a similar position with the Spurs.
Warriors Expect To Open Camp Without Patrick McCaw
The Warriors will hold today’s media day with no resolution to the Patrick McCaw standoff, tweets Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. Sources tell Spears that McCaw hasn’t accepted his qualifying offer from the team and isn’t expected to be at training camp when it opens tomorrow.
Golden State extended the $1.7MM QO to the third-year shooting guard in June and has been waiting for a response ever since. He remains the last restricted free agent left on the market.
McCaw faces an October 1 deadline to accept the offer unless the Warriors agree to extend the deadline. The team can pull its QO at any point after that date, but McCaw would still be restricted and Golden State could match any offer he receives.
McCaw has been part of the rotation during his first two years with the team, averaging 4.0 points in about 17 minutes per game last season. He may have a larger role if he returns, as coach Steve Kerr has talked about reducing the playing time for his four All-Stars.
The Warriors have been keeping a roster spot open for McCaw all summer and will enter camp with just 13 players who have guaranteed contracts.
Warriors’ Lacob Talks Cousins, Durant, Klay, Green
In a recent podcast with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, Warriors owner Joe Lacob discussed a wide variety of topics, ranging from his summer wedding to his club’s surprise signing of DeMarcus Cousins. As Lacob tells Kawakami, the Warriors had been focused on adding wings and weren’t committed to using their taxpayer mid-level exception at all until Cousins fell into their laps on the second day of 2018’s free agent period.
While Kawakami’s conversation with Lacob is worth checking out in full if you’re an Athletic subscriber, here are a few of the team owner’s most noteworthy comments on the Dubs’ roster and outlook for 2018/19:
On whether Lacob is bothered by the perception that the Warriors signing Cousins was unfair to the rest of the league:
“No. It’s not our job to care about the rest of the league. It’s our job to win. Period. End of story. Nothing else to be discussed. And, since Day 1 that’s been our attitude. … We’re committed to winning. That means being excellent at everything you do — from the people you hire in the organization, to building a new arena, to filling out your roster, to retaining your head coach. Whatever it may be.”
On whether the Warriors will have to re-recruit Kevin Durant when he becomes a free agent in 2019:
“Of course we do. He deserves to go and be happy wherever he wants to be. I hope it’s here. I hope he feels the same way that I do and we do about him, when it comes time next summer. But you never can predict these things. We just will do our job, and he’ll do his job and we’ll see what happens next summer; let the chips fall where they may.”
On whether the team made any progress in contract extension talks with Klay Thompson or Draymond Green:
“I’ll let [general manager] Bob [Myers] address those, specifically. But I think it’s fair to say we’ve had discussions with both of them over the summer, their representatives. Nothing’s been done or you’d hear about it. But we’d love to retain them long term in the organization and we will do whatever it takes to do that.”
On the Warriors’ title chances for 2018/19:
“We have high expectations. We want to win. We kind of expect to win. We have a great roster. As long as we stay healthy and do the things we’re supposed to do, I think we have a good chance to win.”