Contract Details: Ellis, Porzingis, R. Williams
Keon Ellis‘ new two-year, $18MM contract with the Nets will include both a player option and a team option, according to reporting from Fred Katz and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As Katz and Vorkunov explain, after earning $9MM in 2026/27, Ellis will have the ability to pick up a $9MM player option for 2027/28, while the Nets will also have the opportunity to exercise an identical team option. If both Ellis and the Nets pass on their respective options, the guard will reach free agency in 2027. But if either side opts in, he would earn a guaranteed $9MM salary in ’27/28.
This isn’t something we’ve seen before, as far as I can recall. In fact, Larry Coon wrote in his invaluable CBA FAQ that a contract may not contain more than one option in the same year. But Katz notes that the language in the Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn’t seem to expressly prohibit it, and I had the same takeaway after reading the section on option clauses.
Ellis’ deal can’t be officially finalized until at least July 6, so we’ll see if the NBA allows that double/mutual option on the second year once the contract is signed. That CBA language also may be relevant for Isaiah Hartenstein‘s new deal with the Thunder, which Shams Charania of ESPN reported would include a “unique” mutual option ahead of the third year in 2028/29.
Here are more noteworthy details on a pair of extensions signed on Tuesday:
- Kristaps Porzingis‘ two-year, $40MM extension with the Warriors only has a $3MM partial guarantee on each season, according to reporting from Anthony Slater of ESPN and Katz (Twitter links). Porzingis’ $20MM salary for 2026/27 will become fully guaranteed on July 7 (ie. next Tuesday). A year from now, if Porzingis picks up his $20MM player option, Golden State will have a window to waive him by July 7, 2027 and only pay a $3MM partial guarantee. This is the kind of “mutual” option that has been more common in the NBA in recent years — James Harden‘s two-year deal with the Clippers last season was one contract that had a similar structure.
- Porzingis will also remain trade-eligible throughout the offseason because the terms of his new contract don’t exceed the extend-and-trade restrictions, Slater notes.
- Robert Williams‘ three-year, $44MM extension with the Trail Blazers is only fully guaranteed for the first year, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). The second year is currently partially guaranteed for $5MM, but would become fully guaranteed if Williams plays at least 50 games in 2026/27. The third year is non-guaranteed, but would become fully guaranteed if the big man plays at least 50 games in ’27/28.
Warriors Sign Kristaps Porzingis To Two-Year Extension
June 30: The Warriors have officially signed Porzingis to a two-year veteran extension rather than waiting until free agency to complete the deal. The team confirmed the move in a press release (Twitter link).
[Update: Porzingis’ extension isn’t fully guaranteed. We have more details here.]
June 29: Kristaps Porzingis will return to the Warriors on a two-year, $40MM contract, agent Jeff Schwartz tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The deal will feature a player option on the second year.
It’s a pretty significant pay cut for the Latvian big man, who has made between $27-36MM each of the past seven seasons. But there’s a reason he accepted less money — his availability has been very limited over the past two years, appearing in just 42 and 32 games, respectively.
Porzingis, who battled a series of injuries earlier in his career, and has dealt with an illness – diagnosed as POTS – for the past season and a half. He was still highly effective last season when he played — the Warriors were 6.4 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the court, and that number was even higher (7.8 points per 100 possessions) during his time with Atlanta. But again, he only played 32 games.
Porzingis turns 31 in August and provides an enticing combination of being able to score at all three levels — including from well beyond the three-point line — and being able to protect the rim on defense. At 7’2″, he’s a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses when he’s active.
In his 32 games with the Hawks and Warriors last season, Porzingis averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks on .446/.338/.842 shooting in just 24.0 minutes per contest. Golden State acquired Porzingis in February in the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta.
The Warriors are reportedly pursuing both Anthony Davis (via trade) and LeBron James (via the full mid-level exception). According to cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter links), it’s technically still possible for the Warriors to acquire both of those longtime stars, but it would require trading Jimmy Butler (and draft assets) for Davis, salary-dumping Moses Moody‘s contract, and Draymond Green re-signing on new deal that features an identical (or lower) cap hit to Porzingis.
If Golden State is unable to shed Moody’s salary, the team likely wouldn’t be able to use more than the taxpayer MLE, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). That projects to be worth $6.1MM next season, vs. $15MM for the full MLE. The Warriors will be hard-capped at the first tax apron if they use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.
Re-signing Porzingis was long viewed as a priority for the Warriors, and multiple reports indicated that a deal was expected to come together before he could reach the open market on Tuesday. He’s technically signing an extension, which he was eligible for through June 30, not a new contract.
Porzingis was No. 22 on our list of 2026’s top 50 free agents.
More On Warriors’ Interest In Anthony Davis, LeBron James
Word of the Warriors‘ apparent interest in Wizards big man Anthony Davis first surfaced on Sunday night and was advanced on Monday when Draymond Green declined his $27.7MM player option for 2026/27, signaling that the team is looking into finding a way to acquire both Davis and star forward LeBron James.
According to Anthony Slater of ESPN, Warriors team sources have said for weeks that they expect James to remain in Los Angeles, but with LeBron having not yet engaged seriously in contract discussions with the Lakers, Golden State believes that door may have opened a crack.
Whether or not their pursuit of Davis goes anywhere, the Warriors have the flexibility to offer James the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is expected to start at just above $15MM. However, according to Slater’s sources, the Warriors believe the prospect of acquiring Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate and good friend, would significantly strengthen their pitch to the four-time MVP.
As RealGM relays, ESPN’s Shams Charania suggested during an appearance on SportsCenter that Davis and James might have to be a “package deal” to end up in Golden State — in other words, the Warriors may be unlikely to acquire one if they can’t get the other.
There’s also said to be some league-wide skepticism about whether the Warriors actually have a serious chance to land Davis and James to team up with Green and Stephen Curry or whether Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul – who represents all three players – is just looking to get all of them paid by their current teams.
“The people in the league that I’m talking to today are giving me the side-eye, and they’re going, ‘This is going to end up with Draymond Green getting a new contract in Golden State, LeBron getting a new contract in Los Angeles, and Anthony Davis getting a new contract in Washington,'” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Rich Eisen Show (Twitter video link). “… So, I’m not saying I know, but part of this could be creating leverage for AD and LeBron in both Washington and L.A. And then everybody gets paid on a contract. Or they could all end up in Golden State. I’m not sure which it’s going to be.”
Here’s more on AD and LeBron:
- With the Warriors emerging as a real threat for James, the Lakers are expected to engage with the 41-year-old forward in conversations about his future sooner rather than later, says NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
- According to RealGM, Windhorst said during Monday’s episode of Get Up on ESPN that Paul met with the Wizards on Sunday to discuss Davis’ future. “I’m sure that Anthony Davis could be given a contract that would make him very happy to be in Washington,” Windhorst said, pointing out the Wizards have already committed to Trae Young on a four-year, $212MM contract. “Maybe the Wizards are prepared to do that. The Wizards want to win immediately.”
- John Hollinger of The Athletic examines the cap machinations that would be necessary for the Warriors to acquire Davis and James, suggesting that there may not be a path for Kristaps Porzingis to re-sign with Golden State if the team were to pull off landing the former Lakers stars.
- If Davis were traded to Golden State, Jimmy Butler would have to be the outgoing piece for salary-matching purposes. Asked about that possibility, Butler’s agent Bernie Lee told Slater (Twitter link) that the Warriors have maintained they’re not looking to trade his client. “I don’t want to get into a constant cycle of responding to this stuff,” Lee said. “But I will say the Warriors — from ownership to the front office to the coaches and medical staff — have been resolute in their plan to support Jimmy through his rehab. … That remains true today as I respond to you.”
Stein/Fischer’s Latest: Warriors, Collins, Triano, Harden
The Warriors appear to be on the verge of finalizing a deal to keep free agent big man Kristaps Porzingis in the organization, report Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscriber link). Like Trae Young, Al Horford, and others, Porzingis is likely to reach an agreement with his team during the exclusive negotiating window before Tuesday’s official start to free agency.
Golden State is also still expected to pursue Lakers free agent LeBron James, who, as of Friday, reportedly had yet to engage in serious discussions with L.A. on a new deal. Previous reporting had indicated that the Warriors were expecting James to stay with the Lakers, but his plans remain unclear. The Warriors are banking on a pitch that includes the fact that their team would be the closest James could be to his home base in L.A. without going to the Clippers.
Golden State is limited by what they can offer the 22-time All-Star, though. They are expected to have the $15MM mid-level exception available, but the final amount will be determined by what happens with Draymond Green and Porzingis.
The Warriors are also expected to explore other free agent alternatives while they wait to see what James decides to do. Reserve big man Jock Landale, and guards Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton are considered targets, with the latter two reflecting Golden State’s interest in acquiring another scoring ball-handler to insert in the backcourt rotation.
On that note, Kevin Porter Jr. would have likely been a target for them had he not picked up his player option with Milwaukee, Stein and Fischer say.
We have more news from around the NBA, courtesy of The Stein Line:
- The Timberwolves have interest in free agent John Collins as they continue to look for a power forward to replace Julius Randle, but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to afford him, Stein and Fischer report. The Magic, Spurs, and Sixers are all expected to pursue Collins, with Stein and Fischer noting that San Antonio and Philadelphia continue to be linked to the top forward options in free agency.
- Mavericks assistant coach Jay Triano is drawing interest from the Trail Blazers to join newly hired Micah Nori‘s coaching staff, the Stein Line reports. Nori worked under Triano when the latter was head coach of the Raptors. Triano is a very experienced coach, having spent over 20 years as an assistant in the NBA, with multiple head coaching stints both in the NBA and with the Canadian national team.
- Besides Porzingis, another free agent expected to come to a pre-Tuesday agreement with his current team is Cavaliers guard James Harden. Stein and Fischer previously reported the expectation that a deal would get done soon, and they now say an agreement could “come to fruition any minute.”
Warriors Rumors: Melton, Porzingis, Burries, Horford, Olbrich
Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton is expected to join a new team this summer, sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
Melton spent last season on a minimum-salary contract and holds a $3.45MM player option for next season. Anthony Slater of ESPN previously reported that Melton was expected to decline that option to test the open market, but that wouldn’t preclude a return to Golden State.
Melton, 28, played a larger offensive role than anticipated in 2025/26 due to injuries. The veteran combo guard averaged a career-high 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 23.0 minutes per game across 49 appearances, including 24 starts.
While Melton shot a career-best 50.5% on two-pointers last season and a solid 82.6% on free throws, he struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 29.4% of his three-point tries. He had made 38.3% of his threes in the five seasons leading up to ’25/26.
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Both Golden State and Kristaps Porzingis are interested in coming to terms on a new contract, according to Siegel. Sources tell ClutchPoints the two sides have been “actively engaged” in contract discussions. Slater previously reported there was “growing momentum” between the Warriors and Porzingis on a short-term deal.
- The Warriors are believed to be seeking backcourt reinforcements, per Siegel, particularly a secondary play-maker at guard. On a related note, sources tell Siegel the Warriors had been targeting former Arizona guard Brayden Burries with the 11th overall pick and believed he might fall to that spot after Atlanta and Dallas chose other prospects at Nos. 8 and 9, respectively. However, as Siegel writes, Burries was selected by the Bucks at No. 10, which led the Warriors to draft Yaxel Lendeborg, another player the team was high on.
- Al Horford‘s new contract with Golden State is expected to feature a 15% trade kicker, sources tell ClutchPoints. Slater and Shams Charania of ESPN reported Thursday that Horford would be re-signing with the Warriors on a two-year, $14MM deal after declining his $6MM player option. ESPN’s duo also said the 40-year-old big man’s contract would contain a trade kicker, though the report didn’t specify the percentage.
- Former Bulls center/forward Lachlan Olbrich will play for the Warriors in summer league action, per Olgun Uluc of ESPN (Twitter link). Olbrich spent last season on a two-way contract with the Bulls, appearing in 37 games and averaging 2.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest. The 22-year-old Australian was selected 55th overall in last year’s draft. Chicago could have made him a two-way restricted free agent by issuing him a qualifying offer, but it sounds like that won’t happen.
Warriors GM Dunleavy Hoping To Retain Green, Porzingis
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is hopeful of retaining both Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
Green holds a $27.7MM option on his contract for next season, while Porzingis will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the month.
“I’ve had conversations with kind of all of our free agents,” Dunleavy said. “Their representatives. I think we’re in a good place with all of them … as far as Draymond and KP, Draymond has the player option, but we’re in communication with his group. Then same thing with KP. Both guys, I think, we value, we want here, and we see them as a kind of (a) piece of the puzzle next season.”
Green, who has stated he wants to return, could help out the front office by declining his option and signing a new contract at a lower starting salary. That would give the Warriors more breathing room to stay out of the luxury tax and avoid the aprons.
Golden State is also awaiting decisions on two other player options that would impact its bottom line — Al Horford ($5.97MM) and De’Anthony Melton ($3.45MM). Reporting this morning indicated that Melton is likely to decline his option.
Here’s more from Dunleavy’s press conference:
- Steve Kerr decided shortly after the season to remain as head coach. However, his staff is still in flux — Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse left the organization in hopes of landing head coaching jobs. Dunleavy says the front office is still mulling its options. “We’re still working through that,” Dunleavy said. “Obviously, getting the main thing done with Steve was huge. With Terry and Jerry leaving, there obviously will be some changes, so we’re working through that. But nothing imminent. Once there is, we’ll let you guys know.”
- The GM seems intent on keeping the 11th overall pick in the draft, rather than using it in a trade. “(The) job right now is to make this team better. So if it means doing older, then we’ll do it, but that’s pretty unlikely,” Dunleavy said. “There’s only so many guys I feel like we could bring in that are older. We’ve got some guys on the back end of it already, and to add to that, there would definitely be some risk. Maybe there’s a situation we do that and go for it — we obviously would prefer to get younger.”
- While the Thunder and Spurs appear set up for long-term success in the Western Conference, Dunleavy won’t make moves specifically with those teams in mind. “We’ve had, what, eight different champions in eight years. Is that right? I’d say the big-picture thing is it’s as wide open as it’s ever been,” he said. “We can’t make any assumptions that this team is going to do it for the next 10 years. They’re going to be here. You know, injuries, salary cap issues, all those things. I think we’ve got to be careful of that. More than anything, it teaches you just to focus in on yourself and what you can do to be better. Don’t worry about we have to beat this team or we’ve got to be better than this at this position. I think it just reinforces we need to be better and let’s focus on ourselves.”
- The Warriors also have a late second-round pick at No. 54. Dunleavy will go with the best available player at that spot, according to Kevin Topley of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think the approach on the second round for us has been not to overthink it, you’re looking for a guy that can just make it,” he said. “You don’t worry about position, you don’t worry about size, you don’t worry about age, you’re picking, for example, late 50s, it’s hard to make it to the NBA that far back in the draft.”
Warriors Rumors: Kawhi, Murphy, No. 11, Green, Porzingis, More
Even though Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are in their late-30s, the Warriors aren’t necessarily eager to make win-now moves that “mortgage the future for the present,” according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, who points out that Golden State hasn’t been very involved in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes this spring after pursuing the Bucks star at the trade deadline.
Still, that doesn’t mean that the Warriors aren’t remaining on the lookout for impact players who could be attainable on the trade market. The team would have interest in forward Kawhi Leonard, for instance, depending on the price tag, Slater writes, though Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has remained steadfastly against the idea of trading the two-time Finals MVP.
Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III is another player who has long been on Golden State’s radar, and he might be more attainable this offseason than in past transaction cycles, sources tell ESPN. Unlike Giannis and Kawhi, who are in their 30s, Murphy is entering his age-26 season, so acquiring him would help the Warriors accomplish their goal of getting younger.
New Orleans has set a high asking price for Murphy in past discussions, but there have been rumblings about the Pelicans looking to trade into this year’s lottery, and Golden State controls the No. 11 overall pick, Slater observes.
Here’s more from Slater on the Warriors:
- Assuming Golden State hangs onto the No. 11 pick, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, Michigan center Aday Mara, Louisville guard Mikel Brown, and Houston guard Kingston Flemings are among the names to watch, according to Slater, though a few of those players figure to be off the board by the time the Warriors are on the clock. One team source told ESPN that Lendeborg’s fit is “so obvious” and that his age (24 in September) won’t disqualify him, while Slater adds that Mara, Brown, and Flemings all have “fans” within the organization.
- As for Burries, he has declined workouts with some teams drafting in the top 10, including the Kings (No. 7). But the Mavericks (No. 9) are viewed as one of his preferred landing spots and he’s also scheduled to work out for Golden State on Thursday, Slater reports. Team sources tell ESPN that Burries will be one of several notable prospects visiting the Bay Area on Thursday, along with Alabama guard Labaron Philon and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach.
- If having Green decline his $27.6MM player option and signing a new multiyear contract that lowers his 2026/27 cap hit gives the Warriors a direct path to a roster upgrade elsewhere, that remains the team’s preferred route, says Slater, but the current expectation is that Green will simply pick up his option. That wouldn’t bother the Warriors, who like the idea of keeping their books relatively clean beyond next season, Slater continues. That scenario would put Green on an expiring contract, making him a potential trade candidate, but team sources tell ESPN there’s still mutual interest in having him finish his career in Golden State.
- There’s “growing momentum” toward the Warriors bringing back Kristaps Porzingis on a short-term deal that reduces his salary after he earned more than $30MM in 2025/26, Slater writes. Slater adds that Al Horford‘s decision on a $5.9MM player option remains unclear, but De’Anthony Melton is considered likely to turn down his $3.4MM option to test the free agent market. That wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Melton re-signing with Golden State, Slater clarifies.
- Extension discussions for players who are under contract for 2026/27 figure to happen later in the summer. That might include a rookie scale extension for guard Brandin Podziemski, with Slater reporting that there’s “optimism” about the two sides reaching a deal closer to the October deadline.
- In case you missed it, Slater also stated that the Warriors view LeBron James as likely to re-sign with the Lakers.
Fischer’s Latest: Sabonis, Hawks, Porzingis, Wade, Ellis
Rival teams are expecting the Kings to make Domantas Sabonis available in trade talks again this summer after he stayed with Sacramento through the February deadline, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
As Fischer writes, the Kings are facing a significant cap crunch this offseason and are “known to be looking” to reduce their payroll if they can. Sabonis may more draw more interest than some of the team’s other pricey veterans, Fischer notes. That group also includes Zach LaVine (if he picks up his $49MM player option as expected), DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk.
Here’s more from Fischer’s latest rumor round-up:
- In addition to the Bulls, Lakers, Hornets and Raptors, whom Fischer linked to Mitchell Robinson, the Hawks are another team eyeing frontcourt reinforcements this offseason. Fischer suggests the team may be in the market for a backup to Onyeka Okongwu rather than a starting five.
- The Warriors are optimistic about their chances of re-signing Kristaps Porzingis to a more team-friendly contract after he made $30.7MM last season while appearing in just 32 regular season games, per Fischer. However, if a deal falls through, Golden State would likely be in the mix for center help too.
- Cleveland essentially had to pick between re-signing Sam Merrill or Ty Jerome last offseason due to the team’s high payroll — even after significant cost-cutting moves ahead of the deadline, the Cavaliers were the only team to finish over the second tax apron in 2025/26. A similar situation could play out this summer, according to Fischer, with the Cavs expected to prioritize retaining Dean Wade over deadline addition Keon Ellis. Fischer hears Wade could command a “healthy portion” of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which starts at $15MM next season and projects to be worth up to $64.7MM over four years. Ellis’ stock may be trending in the opposite direction after he didn’t play much for Cleveland in the postseason, Fischer adds.
Warriors Notes: Porzingis, Green, Podziemski, Free Agent Targets
The most important decision of the Warriors’ offseason could be whether to re-sign free agent big man Kristaps Porzingis or to free up enough money to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, writes Keith Smith of Spotrac. Porzingis was productive when he played this season, but he was only available for 15 games after being acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline. Smith suggests a short-term deal if Golden State decides to keep him, something in the neighborhood of $50MM over two years.
However, parting with some salary could enable the Warriors to use the NTMLE, which is projected to be worth a little over $15MM next season. Smith theorizes that could be enough to lure LeBron James if he decides to leave the Lakers this summer and doesn’t want to settle for a salary that’s at or near the veteran’s minimum. Smith mentions a few other free agents who might be available in that price range, including John Collins, Rui Hachimura, CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons and Khris Middleton.
Smith expects Draymond Green to turn down his $27.7MM player option for a longer deal, but not at a huge discount. Smith proposes around $75MM over three seasons, with either a partial guarantee or a team option on the final year. Al Horford ($5.9MM) and De’Anthony Melton ($3.5MM) also have player options that Smith believes they’ll exercise because neither is likely to earn more in free agency.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- A potential rookie scale extension for Brandin Podziemski is another order of business for the summer, Smith adds. Podziemski hasn’t become a star during his three years with the team, but he’s steadily improved and has value as a passer and rebounder as well as a scorer. Smith advises the Warriors to make the deal if they can lock up Podziemski for around $64MM over four seasons. Otherwise, they should wait and negotiate with him as a restricted free agent next summer.
- Michigan State center Carson Cooper, who worked out for the Warriors this week, patterns parts of his game after Green and believes he would be a good fit in Golden State, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle relays in a subscriber-only story. “How he played, the way he can impact the game is kind of how I feel I can impact the game a little bit,” Cooper said. “I play hard-nosed defense, get shooters open, give them the ball, work on the (dribble handoffs), facilitate, find cutters and passing and just be a solid player.”
- Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required) points to Simons, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie, and Coby White as free agents who could add some youth and athleticism to the Warriors’ roster.
Warriors Notes: Green, Porzingis, Horford, Butler, Moody, Dunleavy
In a session with the media on Friday, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he’s talked to Draymond Green about remaining with the team, but “the ball is in his court,” writes Nick Friedell of The Athletic. Green holds a $27.7MM player option for next season, with a decision due by June 29. He can pick up the option, use it to negotiate a longer contract, or turn it down and test the free agent market.
“I think we have had discussions where we want him to finish his career (as) a Warrior,” Dunleavy said. “He kind of feels the same way. I would expect him to be back, but it’s his call on that.”
Green, 36, has spent his entire 14-year career with Golden State after being selected with the 35th pick in 2012. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, has earned four All-Star appearances, and played a vital role on four championship teams.
Coach Steve Kerr also expressed hope that Green will decide to remain with the Warriors.
“The number one thing is, it’s up to him,” Kerr said. “He has the player option, so he has to go through that with his agent, how that plays out. I am committed to coaching him, coaching Steph (Curry), obviously, for as long as they’re here. I look at them as collaborators, and what we’ve built is pretty special.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Dunleavy and Kerr are also optimistic about having Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford on the roster next season, Friedell adds. Porzingis, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, is an unrestricted free agent and Dunleavy said negotiations on a new deal will begin soon. Horford signed with Golden State last summer and has a decision to make on a player option worth nearly $6MM. “Those are guys that we definitely would love to have back,” Dunleavy said. “They had some really good performances this year with us. They add an element to our team that we haven’t had in the past.”
- Dunleavy also offered minor medical updates on Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (ruptured patellar tendon), per Friedell. He said both players are making progress with rehab, but it’s still too early to say when they might return next season.
- Dunleavy’s rosy view of the team’s current status could either be viewed as “delusional” or “shrewd deception,” contends Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. The GM cited turnovers as a serious problem this season while adding, “I don’t think we came up short because of the talent on the roster. It was injuries and things we could control.” Poole points out that the Warriors were in the midst of a mediocre campaign before it was derailed by injuries to Butler and Curry, and they won just 10 of their last 32 games.