Golden State Warriors Turn Attention To Offseason
By Dale Johnson
There’s no rest for the champs.
Instead of spending the last two months plotting their offseason moves, the Golden State Warriors were a little busy winning the NBA Championship, and so have only had a couple of weeks to reset and look forward to next season.
Most pressing is tonight’s NBA Draft, where the Warriors own the 30th pick. There has been much talk this week of the Warriors looking to move David Lee, and Golden State could potentially include their first-round draft pick to sweeten the deal to the team willing to take on Lee’s gargantuan salary.
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One way or another, it is highly doubtful Lee will be in a Warriors uniform next season. He is set to make $15.5 million in 2015-16. It was one thing to have Lee around after he lost his starting spot because of an injury and the unexpected meteroic rise of Draymond Green. But to keep him at this point, as a low-end bench option at that price tag makes all of none sense. Finding a trading partner will be difficult, and it is reported the Warriors are not willing to go beyond offering this year’ first-round pick for Lee.
Lee was able to buy-in last year as the prospect of winning a championship was very real, but he has no interest in sitting on the bench for another year heading in to his own free agency. He needs to prove he can still be effective in the league if he wants another contract.
If the Warriors can’t make a trade for Lee, a buyout is a real possibility.
In the event the Warriors do keep their 30th pick, they could search for a defensive minded big man or a solid shooting wing with length. They could also pick a Euro and stash him overseas and hope for the best. You can certainly find diamonds in the rough at pick No. 30 (see Festus Ezeli) but an impact player, at least next season, is not likely.
Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks to center Festus Ezeli (31) during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
After the draft, the Warriors will look to round out their roster via free agency, with the first big deal being retaining the services of Draymond Green. It appears the Warriors have no interest in letting Green walk, and after watching the impact he had on the team, they would be crazy to do so. Plenty of teams will offer Green a max deal on the opening market, but Golden State can exceed any outside offer. I think it is pretty safe to say Green will be in a Warriors uniform for many years to come.
If and when Lee and the Warriors part ways, Golden State will be in search of a big to take his spot on the bench, one making a lot less than $15.5 million.
Other than that, the Warriors roster will see little change. Invitees to summer camp will compete for the jobs that Justin Holiday and James Michael-McAdoo had last year, but that depth is reserved for injury insurance and blowouts rather than actual rotation pieces.
It’s good to be the champs, and even better to be in the position the Warriors are in now with a young roster that will be together for the foreseeable future.