State of the Franchise
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): -$2 million
Background: General Manager Bob Myers has built a very talented squad around a young, flashy backcourt of superstar PG Stephen Curry and star SG Klay Thompson. The rest of the starting lineup is rounded out by SF/SG Andre Iguodala SF/PF Draymond Green, and C Andrew Bogut. After trading G Monta Ellis for Bogut in 2012 and their more recent signing of Iguodala, the Warriors have been a competitive playoff team. However, injuries and lack of bench production have kept them from going deep in the championship hunt in the past couple of years. With the emergence of young forwards SF/PF Harrison Barnes and Green, as well as the addition of PG Shaun Livingston, Golden State now boasts the best record in the entire NBA. Even after passing on trading for All-Star PF Kevin Love (CLE) in favor of keeping Thompson, Golden State is in prime form and on track to win a title soon.
Current Financial State: At $73 million, the team is barely below the luxury tax line, even with Curry's $8 million annual salary, which is probably the best deal in the league. However, due to Klay Thompson's recently signed extension, they are projected to be at $78 million next year, which is $1 million above the luxury tax. They would also like to retain Draymond Green, who is going to be a free agent this year. Most of their money is currently tied up in the bad contracts of Iguodala, PF/C David Lee, and Bogut. They are each being paid about $12 million per year and the earliest contract expires after the 2015-16 season. Golden State is a potential championship team so they cannot afford to break up their core of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee, Bogut, and Green. In order to compete for a title, however, owner Joe Lacob must be willing to pay the luxury tax, which means accepting PF Marreese Speights' $4 million team option. However, even if Lacob pays the luxury tax, Golden State still must turn to the trade market in order to save enough cap space to re-sign Green and keep them under the second threshold of the luxury tax.
Targets: Golden State is looking for a trade partner to unload some bench players for expiring contracts. A likely candidate to be traded is PG Shaun Livingston. Livingston is currently being paid $5 million a year and trading him could help them dip lower in the luxury tax. A trade that could work would be Livingston for Houston's PF Kosta Papanikolaou, as well as backup PG Isaiah Canaan to play behind Curry in place of Livingston. Golden State would receive Papanikolaou and Canaan’s team options of $5 million and $1 million respectively, which they would decline for financial reasons. This would allow them to retain Draymond Green and the rest of their core players, while remaining in the first luxury tax threshold. Houston does this trade due to their depth at PF, highlighted by Terrence Jones and Josh Smith, and because of their need for a PG to back up current starter Patrick Beverley. The Warriors are unlikely to target anyone besides Green in free agency because they are restricted by the cap.
The Fit: Golden State pulls the trigger on this deal to relieve their cap situation. PG Justin Holiday and Canaan could split the backup minutes behind Curry at PG and Papanikolaou could help out the Warriors' thin, injury-prone frontcourt. Livingston is an upgrade for Houston over Canaan. Livingston meshes well with Houston because like Beverley, he is a pesky defender with a less than desirable shot.
Projected Cap Space (before luxury tax): -$2 million
Background: General Manager Bob Myers has built a very talented squad around a young, flashy backcourt of superstar PG Stephen Curry and star SG Klay Thompson. The rest of the starting lineup is rounded out by SF/SG Andre Iguodala SF/PF Draymond Green, and C Andrew Bogut. After trading G Monta Ellis for Bogut in 2012 and their more recent signing of Iguodala, the Warriors have been a competitive playoff team. However, injuries and lack of bench production have kept them from going deep in the championship hunt in the past couple of years. With the emergence of young forwards SF/PF Harrison Barnes and Green, as well as the addition of PG Shaun Livingston, Golden State now boasts the best record in the entire NBA. Even after passing on trading for All-Star PF Kevin Love (CLE) in favor of keeping Thompson, Golden State is in prime form and on track to win a title soon.
Current Financial State: At $73 million, the team is barely below the luxury tax line, even with Curry's $8 million annual salary, which is probably the best deal in the league. However, due to Klay Thompson's recently signed extension, they are projected to be at $78 million next year, which is $1 million above the luxury tax. They would also like to retain Draymond Green, who is going to be a free agent this year. Most of their money is currently tied up in the bad contracts of Iguodala, PF/C David Lee, and Bogut. They are each being paid about $12 million per year and the earliest contract expires after the 2015-16 season. Golden State is a potential championship team so they cannot afford to break up their core of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee, Bogut, and Green. In order to compete for a title, however, owner Joe Lacob must be willing to pay the luxury tax, which means accepting PF Marreese Speights' $4 million team option. However, even if Lacob pays the luxury tax, Golden State still must turn to the trade market in order to save enough cap space to re-sign Green and keep them under the second threshold of the luxury tax.
Targets: Golden State is looking for a trade partner to unload some bench players for expiring contracts. A likely candidate to be traded is PG Shaun Livingston. Livingston is currently being paid $5 million a year and trading him could help them dip lower in the luxury tax. A trade that could work would be Livingston for Houston's PF Kosta Papanikolaou, as well as backup PG Isaiah Canaan to play behind Curry in place of Livingston. Golden State would receive Papanikolaou and Canaan’s team options of $5 million and $1 million respectively, which they would decline for financial reasons. This would allow them to retain Draymond Green and the rest of their core players, while remaining in the first luxury tax threshold. Houston does this trade due to their depth at PF, highlighted by Terrence Jones and Josh Smith, and because of their need for a PG to back up current starter Patrick Beverley. The Warriors are unlikely to target anyone besides Green in free agency because they are restricted by the cap.
The Fit: Golden State pulls the trigger on this deal to relieve their cap situation. PG Justin Holiday and Canaan could split the backup minutes behind Curry at PG and Papanikolaou could help out the Warriors' thin, injury-prone frontcourt. Livingston is an upgrade for Houston over Canaan. Livingston meshes well with Houston because like Beverley, he is a pesky defender with a less than desirable shot.