Which three Warriors are slated for career years?
By Jordan Lee
Motivation is an oft unspoken virtue among NBA talent because everyone assumes that all NBA players must have indestructible and infinite motivation to practice hard.
We all hope and expect that our favorite team’s players are all busy at the gym improving their craft to help said team win a championship. We all hope and expect this, but it is far from the truth. As a matter of fact, players lose motivation, and there have even been notable NBA stars scoffing at the importance of practice.
“You talkin’ about practice?”
A common tangible tool for gauging motivation is the difference in player production from year to year based on where they are in their player salary. Warriors fans may recall a certain Andris Biedrins who looked like a potential All-Star right before the Warriors signed him to a huge six year, $54 million contract where he nose-dived into nothingness on the court. Almost like turning off a light switch, Biedrins’ production on the court turned off and his motivation to improve seemed to disappear. And to him, why work harder than he must? His $54 million is already guaranteed, so why not go on cruise control? That must have been his mentality and that is where we suffer. I believe Andrew Bogut may have a small ounce of this problem, but that is another issue. I would like to discuss how this fiscal motivation can help the Warriors.
After signing their mega contracts, they may or may not lose motivation to improve. But immediately before their contracts are signed? They’ll be playing the best basketball of their lives hoping to increase their worth. The Warriors conveniently have a few key players that are in this position and that is why I believe they will have career years this year: Marreese Speights, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
Marreese Speights
Speights was a little disappointing last year save a few sparks of light. He was supposed to be a replacement for Carl Landry, and he simply did not do the job asked of him. His contract is worth $3.6 million this year and there is a team option for him for $3.8 million next year. What I believe and what I think he believes is that if he replicates last year’s performance, he will not be coming back next year. Even worse, he won’t be re-signed by another team for that amount either, he would likely be taking a pay cut of over $2 million if that was the case. As with most of us, that is a $2 million pay cut he most certainly does not want to take.
Klay Thompson
Much has already been said about the Splash Brother and his worth. But as a friendly reminder, the Warriors kept him instead of trading him and David Lee for Kevin Love, a move the front office made in faith towards Thompson and what we all hope will be a career year for him. After this year, he is expected to sign a major contract, and much of it will hinge on his performance this year. For Thompson, this year may make the difference of an extra $2-4 million per year – $8-16 million over four years. If you think Speights is motivated for money, you’ll bet your behind Thompson is thinking of it too.
Draymond Green
Green is the most interesting case for me and has been talked about way less than he deserves. Draymond Green has made less than $1 million in every year of his career so far. That is less than Nemanja Nedovic is making. I think his role on the team will make a huge impact on his salary next year, and if he has a monstrous breakout year, who knows what a team might offer him? I am very high on Draymond Green and I can’t wait to see how he’s improved over the summer.
I am an optimistic guy when I talk about the Warriors, and I’ll tell you, I’m even more optimistic about these three players. Particularly, in the case of Thompson and Green, who both participated in Team USA this summer, I expect career years from them.