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Let’s start this Warriors Potential Offseason Wish List with five stipulations that set a rational framework for expectations over these next few crucial months in this later stage of the Stephen Curry era:
1. All hopes, plans and roster imaginings for 2024-25 begin and remain with Curry and Draymond Green, who are both signed for several more seasons and have every intention of getting the Warriors back into the deepest levels of the playoffs as soon as possible. Yes, the Warriors haven’t been good enough with Curry and Draymond in the past two seasons, but there’s zero pathway to the playoffs without them next season. This is still the Curry Era.
2. The Warriors can move out of the restrictive second apron this offseason without much difficulty and can even get below the luxury-tax line (with more difficulty), but they can’t get far enough under to offer a maximum contract to any free agent or probably even to use the non-taxpayer midlevel exception of $8.6 million. Their largest outright signing slot almost certainly will still be the taxpayer midlevel exception of $5.3 million. Which obviously drastically reduces the target field.
3. One of their top priorities will be to re-sign Klay Thompson because the Warriors want him back and also because they’d lose his salary slot if he leaves as a free agent. Until the Warriors know Klay’s decision, that roster/salary spot is locked up. And even if he leaves, the Warriors’ cap situation probably prevents them from adding any similar salary unless it’s in a sign-and-trade deal — and even that would be difficult to put together.
4. The Warriors will be looking to add young, tall, athletic two-way players who are smart enough to play with Curry in Steve Kerr’s system. The Warriors’ roster has been getting increasingly non-dynamic, and the Play-In blowout loss to Sacramento last month was the capper. Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s first draft class of Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, both canny enough to play large minutes late in the season, was a good step. Now the Warriors need some young players who fit other roles.
5. They don’t have their own first-round pick. Which means if they’re looking to make a big move, the Warriors’ best realistic trade assets are Jonathan Kuminga, Podziemski, their 2026 and 2028 first-round picks and Chris Paul’s pending $30 million contract for next season, which would have to be guaranteed if it’s used in any trade.
But Kuminga and Podziemski are already major parts of the rotation and future plans; the Warriors wouldn’t want to offer either player in a trade unless they’d be getting back a star in his prime who is set to stick around for the long term (unlike Pascal Siakam last trade deadline). At least for this column, I’m circling the CP3 contract and those two future first-round picks as the Warriors’ most tangible trade pieces.
What about Andrew Wiggins? While his $26.3 million salary next season would be helpful in any July salary matching, and I believe the Warriors considered trading him last February, the disparity between his trade value and his actual value to the Warriors as their best on-ball defender makes it tricky. If Wiggins was going to be traded, it probably would’ve already happened.
One last important general stipulation: Whatever move the Warriors make, it isn’t likely to raise them to 2025 title contenders alongside Minnesota, Denver, Oklahoma City or Boston. But they’re also not going to blow it all up while Curry is still Curry. Their most promising path, within that context, is to give themselves their best shot possible by making several solid moves that bolster the roster and soup up the offense the way that Dallas’ recent acquisitions of Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington were so key to their current postseason run.
So let’s take a look at some names, in general order of potential magnitude, and I’ll add my own view of the Warriors ‘likelihood …
Warriors’ chances: Very unlikely, though he’d look quite good next to Curry, Draymond and Klay.
Contract status: George has a $48.8 million player option for next season that he’s likely to decline in order to set up a long-term max deal with the Clippers or elsewhere.
Age: 34.
Overview: George is here mainly as a premium placeholder for all the big-name players who could or will get max offers if and when they hit the free-agent market — that’d include LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Siakam and OG Anunoby, who all seem likely to stay with their current teams. I’ve listed George because he’s the most likely of this group to change teams, but I just don’t think the Warriors will be in the mix.
Though they’ve had interest in George off and on through the years, the Warriors simply don’t have a way to land a max free agent outright. In the sign-and-trade universe, the Warriors’ ultimate package — CP3’s contract plus Kuminga plus those two first-round picks — probably wouldn’t be enough to beat other bidders for any top-of-market deal. And psst, PG-13 might be aging out of this level, anyway.
Paul George might be heading out of L.A., but the Warriors would have a tough time winning the bidding war. (Kevin Jairaj / USA Today)
Warriors’ chances: Not out of the question.
Contract status: Signed only for one more season, at $36 million. If he’s moved, the team that acquires him would probably want to have a long-term deal ready to go.
Age: 26.
Overview: The Pelicans seem set to deal after their first-round disappointment, and Ingram is their most likely trade piece. He’s the right age and the right kind of player to step into a 1B role behind Curry, but it might be too much for the Warriors to outbid everybody else (it’d take Kuminga, CP3’s contract, the picks and probably more) and also have to max out Ingram right when the team that knows him best has likely decided it wants no part of that kind of financial commitment. If the Warriors go for the biggest swing, though, this might be what it looks like.
Warriors’ chances: Very slight.
Contract status: Signed for one more year at $18 million.
Age: 26.
Overview: Markkanen’s skill set (career 37.5 percent from deep) is just about the perfect big-man match for Draymond, and Markkanen is definitely young enough to help carry the Warriors into the next era, too. But if the Jazz make him available on the trade market, just about every team in the league would be calling. Unless Utah’s Danny Ainge falls in love with the idea of grabbing the Warriors’ future draft picks, this doesn’t seem like a ready-made trade conversation.
Warriors’ chances: Plausible.
Contract status: Signed for two more years at a flat $20 million per.
Age: 26.
Overview: Allen isn’t an ideal match because he’s absolutely not a shooter. But that’s also why the Warriors might be able to get into the trade conversation for Allen, who could lock up the rim on defense and thrive as a pick-and-roll dunker. If Cleveland feels it has to give the center spot to Evan Mobley (which would be smart), the Warriors absolutely should be interested — and then worry about the floor-spacing details later. But would it be worth giving up Kuminga plus picks? Maybe just for the chance to throw Curry, Draymond and Allen into a playoff series or two and see what they could do.
Warriors’ chances: Unlikely.
Contract status: Signed for two more years, at $23.3 million next season and $24.9 million in 2025-26.
Age: 27.
Overview: If Wiggins had enough value that Brooklyn could spin him off for more draft picks, this would be more workable for the Warriors. And Bridges could slide right over into the Warriors’ No. 1 defender role at a very reasonable salary. But … no, that’s not Wiggins’ value. Just to get the conversation started, the Warriors would probably have to offer Kuminga plus the draft picks and more. I’m not sure they’d do that for somebody whose offensive production seems to have plateaued.
The Nets’ Mikal Bridges would be a defensive upgrade for the Warriors, but his offense seems to have leveled off. (Gregory Fisher / USA Today)
Warriors’ chances: A little more than slight.
Contract status: Signed for four more years at $25.5 million next season, $27.5 million in 2025-26, $29.5 million in 2026-27 and a player option for $31.5 million in 2027-28.
Age: 27.
Overview: If the Hawks decide to break things up, Murray would be a much more plausible option for the Warriors (and most teams) than Trae Young, especially as a potential backcourt partner with Curry. But the Warriors would be in the same spot the Hawks were in two summers ago — do you really want to burn up your best trade assets for a complementary player? — and wouldn’t want to end up in the same spot the Hawks are in now.
Warriors’ chances: Slight.
Contract status: Signed for three more years at $29 million next season, $31 million in 2025-26, and $33 million in 2026-27.
Age: 24.
Overview: The Heat could be in deal-making mode, too, depending on what happens with Jimmy Butler, and Herro is the asset they’d be most willing to trade. But I don’t see the trade match with the Warriors, who would be unlikely to give up a big chunk of their future for somebody with that high of a salary and that low of a defensive presence.
Warriors’ chances: Not out of the question.
Contract status: Signed for one more season at $23 million.
Age: 36.
Overview: I don’t think the Warriors are shopping for 30-somethings, but Lopez’s 3-point shooting and premium defense makes him special in this case. If Milwaukee decides to bust up the core group, maybe something is workable here. Kevon Looney plus Gary Payton II plus a pick might be close but doesn’t quite seem right.
Warriors’ chances: Hmm.
Contract status: Has a $5.4 million player option for the coming season, might decline it to go for a longer-term deal.
Age: 24.
Overview: The 2020 first-round pick by the Phoenix Suns played well at times for the Pacers this season and shot it well from 3-point (42.4 percent) but was pulled from the rotation in the playoffs. If the Warriors could get him for three years at the midlevel exception, he might be the new Otto Porter Jr. Just for more money and minus a lot of wear and tear.
Warriors’ chances: Plausible.
Contract status: Has a $23 million team option for next season.
Age: 27.
Overview: I’m not sure the Raptors want that number on their books, so maybe the Warriors can put together a solid trade offer. Would Toronto take Moses Moody plus a 2028 first-rounder for Brown? Would the Warriors do that?
A key bench player in Denver’s title run in 2023, Bruce Brown has a $23 million team option with the Raptors for next season. (Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)
Warriors’ chances: Very slight.
Contract status: Has a $2.1 million team option for next season and probably will be retained. But OKC is coming up on a bit of a salary crunch.
Age: 24.
Overview: Would a genius team like the Thunder let such a good young shooter go when they’re on the cusp of great things? Well, this is the same team that facilitated the Mavericks’ acquisitions of both Lively and Gafford, so who knows. Generally, I don’t think Joe is going anywhere. But if I’m the Warriors, I’m checking just to make sure.
Warriors’ chances: Depends on the market.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Age: 25.
Overview: I’ve always thought that Melton was strangely undervalued, and here he comes hitting the market, so let’s see how it goes this time. He should get at least the non-taxpayer midlevel. But if Melton is destined for the lower-level MLE, he’d be just about perfect as a seventh or eighth man for the Warriors, who could really use a tough-minded shooting guard.
Some big names that could move but have a very low chance of ending up with the Warriors this summer
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland (hard to see a trade match for either with the Warriors), Miami’s Butler (might’ve aged out of his own timeline), Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves will keep this group together), Denver’s Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon (bad fits), Sacramento’s Malik Monk (likely headed elsewhere as a free agent), the Knicks’ Julius Randle (bad fit), Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris (nope) and Oklahoma City’s Josh Giddey (bad fit).
GO DEEPER
Warriors’ offseason roundup: What’s the latest on Klay Thompson, Moses Moody and more?
(Top photos of Brandon Ingram, Lauri Markkanen and Jalen Smith: Stacy Revere, Alex Goodlett, Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5503114/2024/05/21/warriors-offseason-free-agents-trades-brandon-ingram/