The Golden State Warriors have plenty of decisions to make this offseason.
While there have been hints by Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and coach Steve Kerr throughout the season that they intend to stay the course, that reality seems to be fading as the Warriors’ postseason hopes remain in the balance.
Golden Warriors Rumors: Klay Thompson May Be Willing To Re-Up With Dubs, Despite Reduced Role
Granted, Golden State has played much better as they are getting healthier. The Warriors (26-25) have won five straight, their longest winning streak since the first couple of weeks of the season, and seven of eight overall. Four of their five victories have been by double-digits, and three by 20 points, including last night’s 129-107 victory over Utah.
Golden State sits in 10th place in the Western Conference. However, the Warriors are just one-half game behind the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors are also just four games out of the sixth spot.
Golden State has two games left before the NBA’s all-star break. The Warriors host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and head to Utah for a Thursday night clash. The Dubs, 11-22 against teams with a winning record, are 1-2 against the Clippers, though their lone win in the series came at the Chase Center.
Warriors’ Summer Decisions
Golden State has 11 players under contract for 2024-25, with their salaries totaling over $174 million. That would mean the Warriors were again over the luxury tax, though they have flexibility. It is all but a sure thing that Chris Paul won’t have his $30 million contract guaranteed.
While Paul will likely become a free agent or retire, Andrew Slater of The Athletic did suggest a couple of other options. The Warriors could re-negotiate a lower salary for Paul or trade him. Trading Paul appears to be the least likely solution.
Paul has struggled in his lone season with the Warriors. The 6-3 point guard, who will be 39 in a few months, has been out since January 5.
However, Gary Payton II will undoubtedly pick up his $9.3 million player option.
Free Agents
Golden State has two upcoming free agents, Klay Thompson and Dario Saric.
However, the Warriors could have one or two more, as the Dubs will need to add at least one more player this season. The Warriors are carrying 13 players on standard contracts following their trade of veteran point guard Cory Joseph.
As stated above, Golden State brass has said they planned on extending Thompson. However, Thompson’s offensive production has dropped off enough that his defense now makes him a liability.
Still, Thompson can shoot the ball and will be able to be a contributor for years to come. He is connecting on 3.2 treys at a 37.9% clip this year.
Thompson won’t get anywhere close to the value of his cap hold of $46 million. And he may have to take a reduced role, which he seems okay with.
“Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Thompson told Logan Murdock of The Ringer. “I’ll be 35 next year. At 35, coming off the ACL and an Achilles [tear] and still can be a really good player. Maybe not the guy who scored 60 in three quarters and scored an NBA record 37 points in a quarter, but still a great threat out there. I’ve modeled my game after Reggie [Miller] and Ray [Allen], and those guys were incredibly effective until their late 30s. So I plan on kind of following that mold.”
With Thompson being extension eligible, it is possible that the Warriors use Thompson in a sign-and-trade, per Dunleavy told Slater.
“You know, for me personally in this situation, I’m always going to do what’s best for the organization moving forward. Based on that, that’s how we’re going to operate — whether it’s this deadline, this summer, in th
Saric is due for a salary increase and a multi-year deal and the Warriors may have difficulty re-signing the 29-year-old Croatian this offseason. Saric, who signed a one-year $2.7 million contract this summer, is playing some excellent basketball.
Kerr believes Dario Šarić knew he "slipped through the cracks" in free agency and believes he will land a large contract next summer pic.twitter.com/ZxfCxszqG5
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 25, 2023
“”He knew this was a year where he slipped through the cracks free-agency wise, and needed to be in a good spot to show what he can do,” Kerr said of Saric. “And this is definitely the spot. I mean, he’s playing so well. He’s clearly a player who’s going to command a big salary next summer.”
Golden State doesn’t own Saric’s Bird Rights. Therefore, the most that the Warriors can offer him is $3.2 million a season.
What Should The Warriors Do With Andrew Wiggins?
There were rumors that Golden State was looking to trade Andrew Wiggins at the deadline. However, Wiggins wanted to stay, and the Warriors obliged, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.
That doesn’t mean the Warriors won’t look to trade Wiggins this summer. Thompson believes the Warriors’ most significant offseason decision will be what they do with Wiggins.
Wiggins has struggled this season and has three years and $84.6 million left on his deal. However, the 29-year-old combo forward has played better since the calendar turned to 2024.
Since Jan. 1, Wiggins has averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He also averages 1.2 3-pointers while compiling a shooting slash line of .486/.382/.714 while posting a +0.8 plus/minus rating.
“At one point,” Wiggins said, “I told myself, ‘It can’t get no worse than this. Keep swinging and you’re gonna get out of it. Sometimes in the NBA, in basketball itself, it can be a roller coaster. Roller coaster of emotions, doubt, uncertainty. But it can also be great things, success. It’s a roller coaster. I’m glad I’m feeling better. On the court, I’m in a greater rhythm.”
Other News
Slater said that Lester Quinones has put himself in a position to earn one of the Warriors’ two open roster spots. Quinones, on a two-way contract for the second consecutive season with the Warriors, has played well in his 17 appearances with the big club this year.
Quinones averages 4.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 13 minutes a game. While the 23-year-old guard is shooting under 40% from the field, he is draining 1.2 3-pointers a game at a 40% clip.
