***2021/2022 We really mean it this time Warriors thread***

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Chris_77

Chris_77

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Another one in the books. Nothing left to do at this point but laugh at which team out of Brooklyn or the LeBrons falls on their face. Overall a pretty good season all things considered IMO. We developed some bench depth and Steph had an MVP type season after all the talk that he couldn't carry a team.

Looking forward...

Draft is just about 2 months away. Nice thing about not making the playoffs is apparently not only do we keep our own pick but it goes all the way to 14th overall which is a nice place to look for a solid bench guy. We really need the TWolves pick to convert though. Especially with the possbility that Klay doesn't come back to around December/January. Haven't really looked into the prospects at all yet but will do so in the next couple of weeks.

Kerr is taking a lot of heat but I'm impressed with the what the staff got out of this roster this season. 5th overall defensive rating and, for scrubs, some of that ball movement was amazing.

Still think we need a borderline starting quality PG with as much off ball Steph plays and Draymond being better at the hockey assist than actually handling the ball full time. Missed opportunity there passing up on the LaMelo. I'm not sure I see Manion ever developing into that role. Curious what this Jessup kid can bring though. He's having a pretty good season over in Australia and seems like a guy that could knock a Mulder off the roster as a shooting specialist.

Still need a legit big booty big... there will be a bunch out there at minimum level money. Looney has a player option to so it'll be interesting what he decides to do. I'm not sure what his market would be but centers that can guard the P&R aren't easy to find.
 
I've seen a lot of different scenarios as to what Dubs should do this offseason. We have draft capital we can move for a marquee guy. I've seen trade scenarios involving Wiseman. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Centers take longer to develop and he moves and shoots well for a big man. And let's not forget that he is a couple years removed from playing in High School. Do they want to go all in now while Steph and Klay are in their prime at the risk of mortgaging the future? Then again, who knows if Klay will ever be the same player again.

I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Maybe flip one of those picks and a young player like Paschall and get us that big we are so sorely missing. I've already mentioned John Collins name who was linked to us earlier this year. It doesn't sound like Oubre is probably coming back. I know you guys like Wiggins a lot more than I do. He just seems to come up small in crunch time. We can always get another wide body/ring chaser to spell Looney for not a lot of $$.

We do need another scoring threat off the bench. Funny you mention Jessup. Was just watching highlights of his game in Australia. I think he has a shot to stick next season. Manion has flashed at times, but I think you are right. Not sure he is a long term answer. Probably use one of those first rounders on a PG. I've seen Scottie Barnes from FSU mocked to us. Great defender who is a work in progress with his shooting. Been compared to Draymond.

Whatever they do, Draymond, Steph and Klay will have a lot of say in who they bring in. It wouldn't shock me to see some kind of marquee name in a trade.
 
I'm not sure who the target would be... it would need to be a legit difference maker to give up that draft capital. Then you have to factor the salary. Wiggins would need to be included in just about any deal that brings back a star type which leaves a big hole at SF again. My guess is that we'll hold tight with the picks. Wiseman... I dunno man. I like the kid in a vacuum but timeline and style fit at questions. It's not a coincidence that we took off once we didn't have to force feed him minutes anymore.
 
Offseason moves for the Golden State Warriors: Steph's extension and the Timberwolves' draft pick
May 21, 2021
  • Bobby Marks
The Golden State Warriors missing the NBA playoffs for a second straight season shouldn't be seen as a disappointment. In fact, the 2020-21 season should be seen as a preview of the good things to come for the Warriors next year. Stephen Curry played at an MVP level, winning his second scoring title, and Draymond Green is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.

Add a healthy Klay Thompson to the mix and Golden State should be firmly in the playoff mix in 2021-22, competing for home-court advantage in the first round in the Western Conference.

The Warriors, who already added No. 2 pick James Wiseman to their roster this year, could also be in position to add two more lottery picks, giving them young talent to supplement their Big Three.

With a play-in loss behind them, the Warriors now head into the offseason with a focus on a new contract for Curry and the options that await in the draft.

The Curry extension
The former MVP is in position to do something that no NBA player has ever done: sign two $200 million contracts. In 2017, Curry became the first NBA player to sign a supermax extension, worth $201 million over five years. Now, four years later, Curry is eligible to sign a four-year, $215.4 million extension this summer, which would keep him under contract with the Warriors through the 2025-26 season.

  • 2022-23: $48.0 million | Age: 34-35

  • 2023-24: $51.9 million | Age: 35-36

  • 2024-25: $55.7 million | Age: 36-37

  • 2025-26: $59.6 million | Age: 37-38
Curry's salary of $48 million in 2022-23 would actually exceed the 35% maximum for an individual player, but the collective bargaining agreement allows players to sign for the greater of 35% of the cap or 105% of their salary in the prior year. Curry's 2021-22 salary is $45.8 million.

On paper, the extension would seem to reward Curry for the past and not what the future holds. Paying a player close to $60 million at age 37 sounds ludicrous.

However, there are no signs that the 33-year old is slowing down. Curry was an MVP finalist this year and posted numbers as good as when he won back-to-back MVPs in 2015 and 2016.

"He's reminding me of MJ in that you just get so used to the brilliance and the excellence, it sort of blends in with everything else," Steve Kerr said. "It just becomes routine. It's insane to say that because what you're watching is otherworldly, and yet you sort of begin to expect it. That's probably the purest sign of greatness."

As Ramona Shelburne wrote earlier this month, Curry saved the 2020-21 season with his brilliance on the court and impact off it. Because of that, it is now time for the Warriors to write Curry a $215 million check.
 
The Minnesota first
What happens if the odds are on the side of Golden State the night of the lottery?

By virtue of the D'Angelo Russell trade to Minnesota, the Warriors have the Timberwolves' top-3 protected first-round pick. Because of the Timberwolves' strong finish to the season, that pick sits in the No. 6 position heading into the lottery, and has a 9.6% chance of jumping up to fourth.

If it does get up to No. 4 and conveys to the Warriors, Golden State could be staring at three potential impact players: Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Kuminga. The addition of Green, Kuminga or Suggs along with James Wiseman, last year's No. 2 overall pick, would give Golden State a solid foundation for an eventual post-Curry future, or two highly coveted young players to use in a trade.

Listen

However, there's a 62.8% chance the pick ends up sixth or lower, which would not be an ideal scenario for the Warriors, according to ESPN Draft analyst Mike Schmitz:

"'The draft starts at 6' will likely be a phrase used to exhaustion during the pre-draft process, and for good reason. You could make an argument that four, and potentially even five, of our top-rated prospects would be the No. 1 pick in a normal year, when you talk about Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Kuminga. While the top five feels fairly set from talking to NBA executives, there's still a lot of fluidity in this draft starting at six."

There is also a 27.6% chance that the pick jumps into the top three, in which case the Timberwolves keep it this year and send Golden State an unprotected 2022 first-round pick, which was once seen as the crown jewel of draft assets because of a Timberwolves roster that is in flux.

However, Minnesota has shown signs of being a competitive team next season (13-18 record since the All-Star break) and would return a roster featuring Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Russell and whichever potential star the team drafts in the top three this year. That would leave Golden State in a position to decide if it would be best to trade the future pick sooner rather than later, or hold out hope the Timberwolves falter again and the pick lands in the top five in 2022.
 
Klay Thompson's return

Regardless of what happens in the draft, Thompson's return could turn the Warriors from a play-in team to one contending for a top spot in the vaunted Western Conference.

"I anticipate us being right back in contention for a championship again," Thompson told reporters in a videoconference in mid-March.

The last time we saw Thompson, he was coming off a 2018-19 regular season in which he averaged 21.5 points and shot 46.7% from the field and 40.2% from 3. He followed that up by averaging 26 points and shooting 53.5% from 3 in the NBA Finals loss to Toronto.

However, that was two years ago. Thompson is now trying to do the unthinkable: return from a torn ACL and a torn Achilles. While there have been no setbacks in his recovery, expect both the Warriors and Thompson to be cautious.

"I'll be honest, I don't expect to come back balls to the wall, 38 minutes a night, guarding the best player, running around 100 screens," Thompsons said. "I'm going to get to that point. I guarantee that. I plan to be an All-NBA player that I was."

If he does return to that level, the Warriors' days of being in the lottery should be over.

The free agency of Kelly Oubre Jr.

With Thompson expected to be ready for the start of next season, the Warriors need to decide if Oubre is a priority or luxury.

"I would love that," Oubre said, when asked if he'd like to stay with the Warriors for years to come. "At the end of the day this is a business. We got through one step, the next step is giving my all to this team so we can reach our goals this season. And then this summer that's another step, so I'm just kind of in the moment right now. I'm here. I'm a Warrior."

After getting off to a slow start to the season, Oubre picked up his play in February, averaging 20.1 points per game on 50.2% shooting from the field and 43% from 3-point range. He missed the last 10 games of the regular season and the play-in tournament with a wrist injury, but he played 55 games overall, averaging 15.4 PPG, the second-highest mark of his career.

The Warriors have three options with regards to how they handle his free agency.

  1. They can sign him but absorb a staggering cost to the luxury tax. Signing Oubre to a conservative $10 million contract could add close to $100 million to their already high tax bill.

  2. They can let Oubre walk without anything in return.

  3. Similar to what Boston did with Gordon Hayward, the Warriors can work a sign-and-trade deal and create a large trade exception to use in the future. However, the team acquiring Oubre would need to sign him to a three-year deal (only the first year would have to be guaranteed). The Warriors would also have the option of taking back players in a sign-and-trade, but adding salary would add to their tax bill.
In a perfect world, Oubre would play the role of sixth man and strengthen the Warriors' bench. However, Golden State ownership will need to decide what the breaking point is when it comes to spending.
 
How does James Wiseman fit?

We are not going to throw in the towel when it comes to what the future holds for James Wiseman. Yes, this season had its share of ups and down, and ended early after Wiseman underwent surgery on his right knee. However, there has been a severe learning curve for all rookies this season, including Wiseman.

The 2020 draft class was essentially thrown into the deep end and asked to swim. There was no summer league or traditional offseason program, and training camp was significantly condensed.

"He's one year into his NBA career, that's a big adjustment already ... playing with a guy like Steph and playing in a different system for a five-man," former Warrior Andrew Bogut told NBA Sports Bay Area (Dubs Talk Podcast). "You're learning the fundamentals of the game and still catching up with all of that, and he's probably still growing into his body and filling out and lifting weights, so you got to be patient. I know Warriors fans expect the best, and that's where it's a tricky line. You don't want to push this kid like, 'Oh he's not going to be that great.' He's one year in."

The counterargument to the above is that Wiseman, despite his All-Star potential, does not fit the Warriors' timeline when it comes to competing for a championship.

"Can we get James up to speed quick enough to match the timeline with our three core guys? And that's a great question. And we don't know the answer. But when you go into a draft and you see someone who potentially is a generational talent, then that's a decision you have to make," Steve Kerr told 95.7 The Game's "Damon, Ratto and Kolsky Show".

The decision for Golden State is to use the sophomore season of Wiseman as the true test on how he fits in long term.

There are no disgruntled superstars available in a trade who would fit the Warriors' timeline for competing, plus Wiseman's trade value is lower now than before he debuted. On the Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN's Schmitz and Kevin Pelton had Wiseman falling from No. 2 to No. 11 if there was a redo of the 2020 draft.
 
The finances

The Warriors are projected to spend a king's ransom when it comes to their roster in 2021-22. The contracts of Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins have Golden State over the $136 million tax threshold before free agency begins.

Factor in that Golden State is also a repeater tax team (four out of the five prior seasons) and the team's financial commitment is trending toward historic.

Below are different scenarios on how costly the roster could be:

Stephen Curry $45,780,966
2. Klay Thompson $37,980,720
3. Andrew Wiggins $31,579,390
4. Draymond Green $24,026,712
5. James Wiseman $9,166,800
6. Kevon Looney $5,178,572 (player option)
7. Jordan Poole $3,161,440
8. Eric Paschall $1,782,621
9. Juan Toscano-Anderson $1,701,593
10. Gary Payton II $1,977,011 (non-guaranteed)
11. Damion Lee $1,910,860 (non-guaranteed)
12. Alen Smailagic $1,782,621 (non-guaranteed)
13. Mychal Mulder $1,782,621 (non-guaranteed)
14. Kelly Oubre Jr1 $21,562,500 (free agent hold)
15. Kent Bazemore2 $1,669,178 (free agent hold)
16. Nico Mannion3 $1,489,065 (free agent hold)
17. Jordan Bell3 $1,489,065 (free agent hold)
18. First-rounder $3,562,080 (draft hold)
-- Shaun Livingston $666,666 (stretch provision)
Guaranteed contracts $160.4M
Partial/non-guaranteed $7.4M
Free agent/draft holds $6.5M
Dead cap space $667K
Total $175.1M
SALARY CAP $112.8M
LUXURY TAX $136.6M
1. Bird
2. Non-Bird
3. Restricted Non-Bird
Warriors' Projected Depth Chart
PG SG SF PF C
S. Curry K. Thompson A. Wiggins D. Green J. Wiseman
M. Mulder1 J. Poole JT-Anderson E. Paschall K. LooneyP
G. Payton II1 D. Lee1 A. Smailagic1
1= Partial/non-guaranteed
P= Player option
Team needs

  • Backup wing

  • Stretch-4

  • Depth at point guard
Resources to build the roster

  • The draft: own first-round pick, plus possibly Minnesota's first-round pick

  • A healthy Klay Thompson

  • The continued development of James Wiseman

  • Exceptions: $5.9 million midlevel and trade ($2.0 million and $1.7 million)

  • Cash: $5.8 million to send or receive in a trade
 
Dates to watch

• Any decision to part ways with Alen Smailagic, Gary Payton II, Damion Lee and Mychal Mulder would be more about roster fit and less about finances. The four players are on non-guaranteed contracts and because the Warriors are over the luxury tax, their replacements will likely come in at a comparable salary. Out of the three, Smailagic is the likely odd man out. The former second-round pick has played sparingly since he was drafted in 2019, spending most of his time in Santa Cruz, California, playing for the Warriors' G-League affiliate. His $1.8 million contract becomes guaranteed if he is not waived by Aug. 6. Lee started 36 games a year ago, averaging 12.7 points on 35.6% shooting from 3. This year, he averaged 6.5 points on 39.7% from 3 in 18.9 minutes. Lee originally had a July 15 guaranteed date on his $1.9 million contract, which will now be moved to mid-August. Barring a sudden change, Lee will be on the opening night roster in 2021-22. The $1.8 million contract for Mulder does not become guaranteed until Jan. 7, and Golden State can waive him up to the start of the season without a financial penalty. Mulder appeared in 55 games this season, averaging 5.2 points in 11.9 minutes. Payton was signed to 10-day contracts before agreeing to a two-year contract on the last day of the season. The guard has an Aug. 11 trigger date that would see $659K of his $1.9 million contract guaranteed.

• Kevon Looney has until Aug. 1 to opt in to his $5.2 million contract for 2021-22. After missing 42 games in 2019-20 because of an injury, Looney played in all but 10 games this past season. He has a +1.4 net rating in 18.4 minutes per game this season and is one of the Warriors' better defenders (106.7 defensive rating) because of his versatility. However, it is unlikely that he would receive more than his $5.2 million contract on the open market.

Restrictions

• Curry, Thompson and Green all have 15% trade kickers in their contracts. The trade bonuses for Curry and Thompson would be voided because they would exceed the maximum salary allowed. The Green trade bonus is $7.5 million and is spread out over his 2021-22 and 2022-23 salary in the unlikely event he is traded.

• The non-guaranteed contracts of Lee, Mulder, Payton and Smailagic have no trade value until their salary is protected.

• Golden State is not allowed to trade a first-round pick until two years after the pick owed to Memphis from the Andre Iguodala salary-dump trade is conveyed. The pick is top-4 protected in 2024, top-1 in 2025 and unprotected in 2026.

Extension eligible

• The Warriors have four players in addition to Curry who are extension eligible: Looney, Smailagic, Wiggins and Eric Paschall. Paschall earned All-Rookie honors in 2019-20 when he averaged 13.9 points in 60 games (26 starts). This past season, Paschall still averaged a respectable 9.5 points despite his minutes decreasing from 27.6 to 17.3. He is set to enter the last year of this contract, and Golden State can extend him to an additional four seasons with a starting salary of $11 million. Per ProFitX data, Paschall outplayed his $1.5 million contract this season by $6 million, and the starting number on an extension falls in the $4.9 million range.
 
The draft

The Warriors at a minimum will enter the July draft with one lottery pick. That number could increase to two if the Timberwolves' first-rounder falls outside of the top three.

If the Timberwolves retain their first, the Warriors will have their own first and an unprotected first from Minnesota in 2022. Golden State also has its own first-round picks in 2023, 2027 and 2028.

Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Golden State selecting in July:

No. 6 (from MIN): Keon Johnson, SG, Tennessee

No. 14 (own): Alperen Sengun, PF/C, Turkey

Golden State has been known to spend money to buy draft picks. Since 2015, the Warriors have paid $8.2 million for the rights to Patrick McCaw, Jordan Bell, Paschall and Smailagic.
 
The kid from Turkey is supposedly the best C in Europe and will win the MVP of the Turkish Super League at 18. Been watching some of his cut ups. He is decent sized and is a menace around the rim. Has an array of moves. Needs to work on his outside shot but is very good at going to the foul line and will not shy away from contact. Not overly athletic but is a decent passer and has a good feel for the game.

Keon is super athletic and his post up shot reminds me of Kawhi. Needs to work on his shooting but has all the tools to become a big time NBA player. They are comparing him to Jaylen Brown. Probably needs a little more seasoning. He's a lottery pick.
 
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DonkeyKilla said:
was watching Nets earlier, wish we still had KD...
Click to expand...

KD is so talented. Just a strange dude though.

I’m glad he’s recovered from the injuries. Can’t stand the rest of that team but it looks like they’ll walk to a title this year.
 
A few guys I think the Warriors will be interested in drafting (if they keep the picks)

Mostly older/exp types who likely wont be gone at our picks.

Davion Mitchell - fiesty 6'2 defensive dog. A gamer who improved his 3 point shooting but FT shooting blows. Currys back up who could potentially close games. Advanced age and experience so he could play early

Kispert - 6' 7 honky sniper from Gonzaga. Doesn't do much else but is a pure shooter who has a good BBIQ. Can move the ball and move without the ball. Would basically just be a scorer who wont be able to defend well in the NBA. But the size makes you think he can at least not be terrible. Get some boards and he has a quick release so his scoring should translate. age 23-24

Butler - the other Baylor PG. Reliable shooter with experience. Can play on or off ball and has solid defense and is a little taller than Mitchell but not as nasty on D. Better shooter and solid passer tho.

J.Springer - a playmaker at PG who is 6'4 and can get buckets and handle the ball. We need that. Only 19 but he has serious upside.

C.Duarte - another old prospect who is ready to play early. Does it all well. Good shooter, good size at 6'6, good defense. Normal athlete. Just gonna be a long career NBA type. Maybe a bench guy maybe more, but he is too solid to fail IMo. Good #14 pick if you miss on someone you love and want a productive bench mobber w size and IQ.

Sengun - big euro dude with old school post moves and a serious ass game. He isn't much of an athlete and looks about 6'10. Not much of a shooter from deep. Can rebound and play solid D while also converting passes inside (something we suck at) also can shoot free throws so maybe he can become a shooter.


I have a few other guys in mind for the #6-#8 pick with higher upside. But these players can play next season and be helpful for a finals run as soon as next year. They also match the current roster (which will likely be in flux)

Cant play JTA, Looney or Green at the same time. Only one on the floor ideally.

I think the Warriors need a back-up ball handler. A 3 point shooter. A big with traditional size who can finish inside scoring. Meyer mentioned a stretch big Veteran who can shoot. Kelly Olynk as a vet big would be solid. Dare I say... Meyers Leonard who can shoot. Enes Kanter for scoring etc. I think we will add four new players. 2 drafts and 2 vets. The real question is Oubre coming back? Cant lose that asset for nada. Super real question: Igoudala back at vet minimum?
 
gst8 said:
The free agency of Kelly Oubre Jr.
  1. They can sign him but absorb a staggering cost to the luxury tax. Signing Oubre to a conservative $10 million contract could add close to $100 million to their already high tax bill.

  2. They can let Oubre walk without anything in return.

  3. Similar to what Boston did with Gordon Hayward, the Warriors can work a sign-and-trade deal and create a large trade exception to use in the future. However, the team acquiring Oubre would need to sign him to a three-year deal (only the first year would have to be guaranteed). The Warriors would also have the option of taking back players in a sign-and-trade, but adding salary would add to their tax bill.
In a perfect world, Oubre would play the role of sixth man and strengthen the Warriors' bench. However, Golden State ownership will need to decide what the breaking point is when it comes to spending.
Click to expand...

So to pay Oubre $10mm its going to cost the team an additional $100mm in luxury tax? That doesn't make any sense at all. This whole NBA cap thing is so fucking convoluted.

Do a sign and trade with Atlanta and flip one of those first rounders for John Collins. We will have a true front court scorer.
 
BigTron said:
Cant play JTA, Looney or Green at the same time. Only one on the floor ideally.

I think the Warriors need a back-up ball handler. A 3 point shooter. A big with traditional size who can finish inside scoring. Meyer mentioned a stretch big Veteran who can shoot. Kelly Olynk as a vet big would be solid. Dare I say... Meyers Leonard who can shoot. Enes Kanter for scoring etc. I think we will add four new players. 2 drafts and 2 vets. The real question is Oubre coming back? Cant lose that asset for nada. Super real question: Igoudala back at vet minimum?
Click to expand...

Good stuff on the draft. Still haven’t looked into it much yet but you’re on track I think looking at players that can contribute early. Rumor is we were actually set to go with Ball last year but changed at the last minute, presumably because of the Klay injury and figuring Wiseman might have the higher long term upside and we now had a year to waste on development.

Smart looking at offensive guys too. We’ll be fine defensively just with the guys we have. Be it the draft or veteran we need a starting level PG to play next to Curry when he goes off ball IMO. A Tyreke Evans combo guard type would be ideal I think.

As far as Oubre goes I think that ship has sailed. Cap gets complicated but I think the only way we can move him is via S&T and we can’t bring salary back or will be hard capped like the Durant trade. So we either sign to keep him or let him walk and I just don’t think he fits the team. Kind of a Nick Young in his own way.

Iguodala has another year on his Miami deal so nothing doing there.

At the end of the day Curry is going to have a ton of say in whether we use the draft picks or trade them. We’ll probably have a better idea June 22 when we see where the Minnesota pick falls. If they keep it I guarantee we trade it for the following year.
 
Yah everything I'm hearing is that Oubre is a goner. We weren't going to be able to keep him both him and Wiggins anyway. I still wouldn't mind moving Wiggins in the offseason for a low post scorer. Curry has to get extended. I don't want to hear that crazy talk of him going to the Lakers to play with Lebron.

Iggy is toast. I mean if they want to bring him back on a vet minimum deal to finish out his career here, that's fine.

The problem as I see it is that Kerr reminds me of Bruce Bochy. He doesn't have the patience with younger players and likes his veterans. Realistically, its going to be tough for any rookie to have any impact on this lineup in their first year like some of the other clubs around the league. I think he did a terrible job with Wiseman last year. Last thing I want to see is him involved in a trade scenario. You don't find many bigs that can run the floor like him and shoot like he does. It would be a horrible mistake to trade him.
 
Crazy doubt it would happen but maybe idea… Wiggins plus draft capital to LAC for Kawhi Leonard. The Clipper super team is a super failure and Kawhi is 30 and permanently injured but a FA after next year. Giving him a new contract wouldn’t make sense for LAC but his timeline fits perfect with our team. Jerry West comes from the Bill Walsh trade a guy early school of thought and he seems to hate the current Laker franchise so there may just be a conversation to be had.
 
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