Stein’s Latest: Sixers, Warriors, Rockets, Nets
The Sixers’ much-anticipated offseason fell far short of expectations, Marc Stein of the New York Times opines in his latest newsletter (Sign-up link).
Philadelphia didn’t come close to signing either LeBron James or Paul George in the free agent market and couldn’t swing a deal with the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, Stein continues. With Leonard landing in Toronto, the Sixers no longer have a clear path to the conference finals. They’re also still looking for a GM and the most consequential moves they made were re-signing J.J. Redick and dealing for Wilson Chandler, Stein adds.
We have more of Stein’s insights:
- The Warriors were the biggest winners in the offseason. They not only stunned the NBA world by signing DeMarcus Cousins but they also made some underrated moves, such as locking up coach Steve Kerr to a long-term contract and signing serviceable forward Jonas Jerebko.
- The Rockets’ offseason has been unfairly criticized. Re-signing Clint Capela to a team-friendly contract was a major coup and they should extract more production out of Carmelo Anthony than any other team in the league could.
- The Nets will be active on the free agent market next summer but they won’t spend money simply because they’ll have a lot of cap space. Kyrie Irving will be a target if he declines his player option and becomes a free agent.
Club Likely Won't Pick Up Damian Jones' Option
- The Warriors are unlikely to pick up center Damian Jones‘ fourth-year option, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Golden State must make a decision on the $2.3MM option prior to the start of the season. If it’s declined, Jones will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Patrick McCaw Likely To Accept Qualifying Offer?
Patrick McCaw is one of just two restricted free agents left on the market, and his free agency is expected to end with him accepting his qualifying offer to return to the Warriors, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Because he only has two years of NBA experience, McCaw was eligible for restricted free agency this offseason and the Warriors made him an RFA by issuing a qualifying offer worth approximately $1.71MM. While that offer gives Golden State the right of first refusal in the event that McCaw agrees to an offer sheet with another team, it also serves as a one-year contract offer the shooting guard can sign outright.
Assuming McCaw signs that QO, he’d put himself on track to reach free agency again in 2019. Unlike players coming off rookie scale contracts, who become unrestricted free agents a year after accepting a qualifying offer, McCaw would be eligible for restricted free agency again next season, since he’d still have just three years of NBA experience under his belt.
Still, McCaw would receive one notable benefit from signing his qualifying offer — since he’d be re-signing on a one-year deal and would have Bird rights at the end of his contract, he’d have the ability to block any attempts to trade him during the 2018/19 league year.
McCaw, 22, had a promising rookie season in 2016/17 for the Warriors, but took a step backward last season and battled multiple injuries. In 57 games (16.9 MPG), he averaged just 4.0 PPG on .409/.238/.765 shooting. Golden State still views him as a promising – and inexpensive – young prospect with the ability to bounce back in 2018/19, however.
Besides McCaw, Cavaliers swingman Rodney Hood is the only other restricted free agent who still has a standard NBA qualifying offer on the table.
Warriors Notes: Durant, Ownership, Future
Kevin Durant is not only one of the top players in the NBA, he’s also one of the league’s most outspoken figures. Whether it’s his blunt honesty on social media or weighing in on social issues, Durant’s comments are never far from the forefront.
Durant spoke to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated on LeBron James‘ decision to sign with the Lakers, praising the three-time NBA champion’s move.
“I thought it was the perfect decision, the perfect move,” Durant said. “He did everything you’re supposed to do in Cleveland, the perfect next step for him. He’s kind of breaking down the barriers of what an NBA superstar is supposed to be. You feel like you’re supposed to just play it out in one spot. I think he did a good job of giving you different chapters. And it’s going to make his book more interesting when it’s done.”
Durant also weighed in on Golden State signing All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, a move that drew a wide range of criticism from around the NBA.
“It was expected. Nobody likes a great thing. Greatness is rare, it’s different, and people don’t like different, so I get it,” Durant said. “But I think for DeMarcus I liked his approach, our approach to it, coming in, wanting it just to be about basketball, once you look at it that way, it works out perfectly.”
Check out more Warriors notes below:
- Ethan Strauss of The Athletic (subscription required) looked at how the Warriors’ current ownership group came into power and how the current team has been formed.
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic (subscription required) writes about why the Warriors are not concerned about the possibility of having to pay upwards of $300MM for their roster due to luxury tax penalties. “I feel like we’ll do whatever we can to keep winning,” Warriors’ president Bob Myers said. “And I think the players will do whatever they can to keep winning — not knowing what that will exactly look like.”
Draymond Green Passes On USA Minicamp
- Warriors forward Draymond Green isn’t participating in the USA Basketball minicamp, Spears tweets. He joins many other stars, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who decided to skip it.
Livingston: The Warriors Did Not Ruin The NBA
- Shaun Livingston has been a valuable reserve for the Warriors as the team has dominated the NBA the past half-decade, winning three championships in the past four years. Michael Scotto of The Athletic (subscription required) spoke to Livingston during his basketball camp in New York City, where Livingston addressed the Warriors’ success and the perception that Golden State has “ruined” the league with their super team.
Warriors Notes: Cousins, Myers, Green
DeMarcus Cousins is in a state of happiness after signing with Golden State and the 27-year-old feels he’ll return to being one of the top big men in the league once he recovers from the Achilles injury that sidelined him last season.
“My expectations, I plan on coming back and being the same dominant player I was, even better actually,” Cousins said (via Mark Medina of the Bay Area News Group). “Nothing will change.”
One thing that everyone hopes will change is Cousins making it to the postseason. He has yet to enter a playoff game during his eight-year career. GM Bob Myers reportedly told the big man that he deserves to play in the NBA’s second season when the two spoke prior to Cousins signing and the Warriors plan on monitoring his recovery to ensure he’s fully healthy once mid-April rolls around.
“Who knows what time,” Myers said about when Cousins will return to the court. “But certainly we’ll have a few months, if not more, before the playoffs to get him acclimated with what we do and for him to get comfortable. So the goal is to have as much time as we can without rushing him back. We don’t need to throw him out there.”
Here’s more from Golden State:
- The Warriors can afford to wait for Cousins until after the season start and even past the 2018 calendar year in order to put him in the best position to succeed, Medina adds in the same piece. “I have to be smart about it. I’m in a unique situation as well where I’m not needed right away,” Cousins said. “Time is kind of on my side so I have a chance to get to 100 percent. When I feel I’m at that point, I’ll make the return.”
- Some players called Cousins after hearing the news of him signing with the Warriors and attempted to change his mind, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com relays. CJ McCollum was one of the players who reached out to see what was going with Cousins’ decision.
- Draymond Green made the worst free agency pitch to bring Cousins aboard, according to the big man.“He was like, ‘Cous, I’m pretty sure me and you are going to fight,'” Cousin said of his interaction with Green (via Haynes in the same piece). “I’m like, ‘Draymond, Come on. Whoa. Whoa.’ But Draymond, that’s my guy. I respect him as a player, I respect him as a competitor. He’s one of the top in this business and just his approach to every game, I want that guy on my team every day. So, we talked, we kind of communicated about what we both wanted, which was winning games.”
- Cousins is using his one-year pact with the Warriors as a way to rehab his value with the hopes of landing a bigger deal next offseason, Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes. Slater notes that Golden State holds most of the power in the arrangement, having the ability to further tarnish Cousins’ reputation, but also adds that both sides are “openly comfortable” with the partnership.
Steve Kerr Signs Extension With Warriors
JULY 17, 6:00pm: Kerr has signed an extension, the team announced in a press release. “We’re excited to have Steve under contract and poised to lead our team for the next several years,” Warriors GM Bob Myers said in a statement.
JUNE 29, 9:01pm: Kerr will at least double his $5MM per year salary, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports.
6:23pm: The Warriors are finalizing a contract extension with head coach Steve Kerr, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN writes. The new deal will make him one of the highest paid coaches in the NBA.
The extension will build onto the reigning champion bench boss’ existing five-year contract, which he signed for a total of $25MM back in 2014. That was Kerr’s first contract as a head coach in the NBA, the retired player having previously served as an analyst and executive.
In four seasons with the Warriors franchise, Kerr’s squad has sported a legendary .808 winning percentage, claiming three titles along the way.
Curry To Skip USA Mini-Camp; Durant Will Attend
- Warriors guard Stephen Curry has decided to skip next week’s USA Basketball mini-camp, Chris Haynes of ESPN reports. Curry wants to spend more time with his family. Golden State forward Kevin Durant will take part in the mini-camp, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets.
Jerebko Calls Joining Warriors An Easy Decision
- Veteran forward Jonas Jerebko jumped at the chance to join the Warriors, Logan Murdock of the San Jose Mercury News tweets. “My agent called and said the Warriors were interested and after that, it was a wrap,” Jerebko told Murdock. “When the best team in the world calls, you answer.” Jerebko signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with Golden State shortly after being waived by the Jazz.