Warriors Offseason Review
- Bobby Marks of The Vertical took a look back at the Warriors‘ offseason, one in which the team added Kevin Durant, David West, Anderson Varejao and JaVale McGee, among others.
Warriors Announce Front Office Promotions
9:57pm: In addition to his promotion, Myers received a substantial pay increase and a contract extension, though the exact length and amount are currently unknown, Tim Kawakami of The Bay Area News Group reports (Twitter links).
3:59pm: The Warriors announced a handful of new titles for members of their front office today, with several executives receiving promotions. The most notable of the changes within Golden State’s front office was a promotion for Bob Myers, who was named the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager. Myers had previously just been the Warriors’ GM.
In addition to giving Myers a new role, the team also elevated Travis Schlenk to VP of basketball operations/assistant GM, Kirk Lacob to VP of GSW Sports Ventures/assistant GM, and Larry Harris to assistant GM/director of player personnel.
Given the Warriors’ success in recent years – winning a title in 2014/15 and setting the regular-season wins record in 2015/16 – it comes as no surprise that the franchise wanted to reward members of the front office. Myers, in particular, has been instrumental in building the most talented roster in the NBA.
Myers was hired by the Warriors as an assistant general manager in 2011, with the club drafting Klay Thompson in the first round of that year’s draft just a couple months later. In 2012, Myers received a promotion to general manager — during his first offseason as Golden State’s GM, Myers used a second-round pick to select Draymond Green and inked Stephen Curry to a four-year, $44MM extension.
The Warriors have a 238-90 (.726) regular-season record since Myers took over as the team’s GM.
Warriors Sign Elgin Cook
SEPTEMBER 16th: The signing is official, per the RealGM transactions log.
SEPTEMBER 14th: The Warriors have signed former Oregon star Elgin Cook, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. Details were not released, but Golden State is far over the salary cap, so it is assumed to be a minimum-salary deal.
The signing of Cook brings the Warriors up to the maximum of 20 players for training camp. Golden State has just 14 guaranteed contracts, so there should be a camp battle for the final roster spot.
The 6’6″ small forward wasn’t selected in this year’s draft and played for the Kings’ entry in the summer league, averaging 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in four games. He averaged 14.7 points and 5.1 rebounds during his senior season with the Ducks.
Warriors Announce Training Camp Roster
The Warriors have announced their 19-man roster for training camp, as Anthony Slater of The San Jose Mercury News tweets. The list doesn’t include any new or surprising names, but it’s worth noting that the team has left an empty roster spot, indicating that it won’t carry the maximum 20 players when camp gets underway.
While Golden State’s core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala remained intact, those players, plus Shaun Livingston and Kevon Looney, are the only ones returning to the team in 2016/17 on their existing contracts. The Warriors also re-signed James Michael McAdoo, Ian Clark, and Anderson Varejao.
With nine players set to return, the Warriors filled out their roster primarily via free agency, though they added rookies Damian Jones and Patrick McCaw in the draft. Zaza Pachulia, David West, JaVale McGee, and – of course – Kevin Durant were among the club’s notable free agent signees.
[RELATED: Golden State Warriors’ depth chart at RosterResource.com]
The Warriors’ 19-man roster currently consists of 14 players on guaranteed contracts for 2016/17, with five minimum-salary players on deals that aren’t fully guaranteed. Of those five players, McGee and Elliot Williams (who has a $250K guarantee) appear to be the top candidates for Golden State’s 15th and final regular-season roster spot. Phil Pressey, Cameron Jones, and Elgin Cook will also be in the mix.
Traded Second-Round Picks For 2017 NBA Draft
The 2017 NBA draft is still more than nine months away, but with the start of the regular season fast approaching, it’s worth taking stock of how this season’s results will affect next year’s draft. Depending on how certain teams perform during the 2016/17 campaign, other clubs will have the opportunity to pick up an extra selection or two.
Earlier this week, we looked at the first-round picks that could change hands during the 2017 draft. A few more first-rounders will likely be involved in trades prior to the trade deadline, or leading up to next year’s draft night, but there are already several picks that are ticketed for new teams, depending on where they land.
That’s even more true of the second round — more than half of the league’s second-round picks for 2017 have been involved in trades so far, and while some of those picks will ultimately remain with the sending teams due to protection conditions, many will move to the receiving teams.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the second-round picks that could (or will) change hands. For each selection, we make a note of which team is sending and receiving it, the protection or conditions on the pick, and what will happen if the protection language prevents the pick from being conveyed. For instance, the Heat will send their second-rounder to either the Hawks or Grizzlies, depending on where it lands. The team that doesn’t get a pick from Miami this year will get the Heat’s second-rounder in 2018.
Here are 2017’s traded second-round picks:
Atlanta Hawks
- From: Brooklyn Nets
- Protection: None
Boston Celtics
- From: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Protection: None
Boston Celtics
- From: Los Angeles Clippers
- Protection: None
Boston Celtics
- From: Minnesota Timberwolves
- Protection: None
Brooklyn Nets
- From: Boston Celtics
- Conditions: Nets will receive pick (protected 31-45) if Celtics swap first-rounders with Nets.
- If not conveyed: Celtics’ obligation to Nets is extinguished.
Brooklyn Nets
- From: Indiana Pacers
- Protection: 45-60
- If not conveyed: Nets will have opportunity to get Pacers’ second-rounder (protected 45-60) in 2018.
Denver Nuggets
- From: Memphis Grizzlies
- Protection: 31-35
- If not conveyed: Nuggets will receive Grizzlies’ 2018 second-rounder (unprotected).
Denver Nuggets
- From: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Protection: 31-35
- If not conveyed: Nuggets will receive Thunder’s 2018 second-rounder (unprotected).
Houston Rockets
- From: Denver Nuggets
- Protection: None
Houston Rockets
- From: Portland Trail Blazers
- Protection: None
Memphis Grizzlies
- From: Miami Heat
- Protection: 41-60
- If not conveyed: Grizzlies will receive Heat’s 2018 second-rounder (unprotected).
New York Knicks
- From: Chicago Bulls
- Protection: None
New York Knicks
- From: Houston Rockets
- Protection: None
Philadelphia 76ers
- From: Miami Heat
- Protection: 31-40
- If not conveyed: Sixers will receive Heat’s 2018 second-rounder (unprotected).
Philadelphia 76ers
- From: Two of Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz.
- Conditions: Sixers will receive the most and least favorable of these four picks.
Phoenix Suns
- From: Toronto Raptors
- Protection: None
Sacramento Kings
- From: Philadelphia 76ers
- Protection: None
Utah Jazz
- From: Two of Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz.
- Conditions: Jazz will receive the second- and third-most favorable of these four picks, including their own.
The following teams technically acquired second-round draft picks via trade and could receive those selections in 2017. However, these picks are heavily protected and won’t be conveyed to the receiving team unless the sending team finishes with a top-five record in the NBA. If that doesn’t happen, the receiving team is out of luck. The details:
Atlanta Hawks
- From: Phoenix Suns
- Protection: 31-55
- If not conveyed: Suns’ obligation to Hawks is extinguished.
Cleveland Cavaliers
- From: Charlotte Hornets
- Protection: 31-55
- If not conveyed: Hornets’ obligation to Cavaliers is extinguished.
Minnesota Timberwolves
- From: New Orleans Pelicans
- Protection: 31-55
- If not conveyed: Pelicans’ obligation to Timberwolves is extinguished.
Orlando Magic
- From: Sacramento Kings
- Protection: 31-55
- If not conveyed: Kings’ obligation to Magic is extinguished.
San Antonio Spurs
- From: Atlanta Hawks
- Protection: 31-55
- If not conveyed: Hawks’ obligation to Spurs is extinguished.
Finally, there is one team with swap rights on a second-round pick in 2017. The details:
Philadelphia 76ers
- Can swap with: Atlanta Hawks
- Protection: Sixers won’t have chance to swap if Hawks’ pick falls in the 56-60 range.
- Details: The Sixers will have the ability to swap the worst of the Pistons/Warriors/Knicks/Jazz second-round picks for the Hawks’ second-rounder. Practically speaking, this will likely result in Philadelphia swapping the Warriors’ pick for the Hawks’ pick.
RealGM’s database of future traded pick details was used in the creation of this post.
Club Acquires D-League Rights To Pressey
The Warriors have acquired the D-League rights to training camp invitee Phil Pressey via a trade with the Jazz’s D-League affiliate, according to a press release from the Salt Lake City Stars. The Santa Cruz Warriors secured the returning player rights of Pressey in exchange for the same rights to point guard Aaron Craft and a 2017 D-League second-round pick. Pressey, a 25-year-old point guard, signed what is believed to be a non-guaranteed, one-year contract with Golden State, which already has 16 other players under contract. By acquiring his D-League rights, the Warriors can not only ship him to their affiliate if he makes the 15-man roster but also keep him in the organization even if he doesn’t secure a spot.
Warriors Sign JaVale McGee To Camp Deal
SEPTEMBER 15: The Warriors continue to finalize their deals for training-camp invitees, having formally signed McGee this week, per RealGM’s transactions log.
JULY 29: The Warriors have agreed to a “make-good” training camp deal with JaVale McGee, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). The arrangement, based on Stein’s wording, is more than likely a one-year, minimum salary pact that includes no guaranteed money.
Golden State is in search of a rim protector and will give McGee the opportunity during the preseason to fill that role, Stein adds. McGee will compete with 2016 first-rounder Damian Jones and Anderson Varejao for a shot to back up projected starter Zaza Pachulia.
Dallas waived the center earlier this month after they were reportedly unable to find a trade partner for McGee, whose salary of $1,403,611 for 2016/17 was scheduled to become fully guaranteed on July 12th. McGee, 28, appeared in 34 games for the Mavs this past season and averaged 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per outing. The center shot .575/.000/.500 on the year.
Warriors Ink Phil Pressey To Camp Deal
SEPTEMBER 15: Nearly a month after agreeing to sign Pressey, the Warriors made it official this week, according to RealGM’s transactions log. It appears to be a one-year, non-guaranteed summer contract.
AUGUST 16: The Warriors intend to sign unrestricted free agent Phil Pressey, international journalist David Pick reports (on Twitter). The scribe refers to it as a training camp invite, which likely means it’s a make-good deal for the league minimum that includes little or no guaranteed money.
The 25-year-old point guard will have his work cut out for him to make the regular season roster in Golden State, with the team already having 16 players under contract, as Roster Resource shows. Of the 16 players already on the roster, 14 possess fully guaranteed pacts, which leaves one spot up for grabs.
Pressey most recently suited up for the Pistons’ summer league squad in Orlando, appearing in five contests and averaging 2.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per outing. He appeared in a combined 23 games last season for the Sixers and Suns, averaging 3.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 12.3 minutes. His shooting line for 2015/16 was .385/.222/.520.
Warriors Add Cameron Jones To Camp Roster
SEPTEMBER 15: The Warriors have officially signed Jones, per RealGM’s transactions log. It will likely be a one-year, non-guaranteed summer contract for Jones.
AUGUST 19: Cameron Jones will be with the Warriors in training camp, tweets Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor. Citing a league source, Reichert reports that Golden State will add the 6’4″ guard, who has spent time in the D-League and overseas since going undrafted out of Northern Arizona in 2011.
Jones, 27, played for Ironi Nes Ziona in Israel last season and later with Arkadikos in Greece. He played for the Magic in the 2014 summer league and spent the 2014/15 season in Russia.
Jones has prior connections with the Warriors. He played for their summer league team in 2013 and appeared in three preseason games that fall before being waived. He also spent two seasons with the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Development Of Damian Jones Is Important For Team
- The development of 2016 first round pick, Damian Jones, is crucial for the Warriors given their aging big men and expanding payroll, Anthony Slater of the Mercury News writes. “If you look around the league, big guys are always at a premium,” GM Bob Myers said. “Especially athletic bigs. We sometimes demean them by going small. We’re probably one of the teams that do that. But they’re very necessary.” Jones, who is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle he suffered during a pre-draft workout, is expected to miss the entire preseason, which will set him back during his rookie campaign. “Besides the pectoral injury, he’s really healthy as far as knees, ankles, back,” Myers said of Jones. “Which is also another thing that’s hard to find with big guys.”