The NBA world is still reeling from a shortened season – these circumstances might make the MLE a lucrative asset for the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors are fortunate to be able to say that in many ways, they benefited from the NBA season being cut short. In addition to allowing extra time for injured stars such as Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry to be patient with their recovery.
Of course, missing the Orlando Bubble did have some negative effects as well. Steve Kerr recently mentioned on the All The Smoke Podcast that watching the other 22 teams play together made him feel the Warriors were falling behind.
Nonetheless, the organization as a whole feels this time to recalibrate will be valuable moving forward. Competing in five straight NBA Finals took a toll on this roster and it’s important they take the time to rest.
But, most of all, the shortened season is sure to impact the upcoming free agency class, where a few notable names have already expressed interest in signing brief one-year deals in favor of hitting a more lucrative market next year.
https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1317175269313060869
According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, teams are projected to spend just $300 million dollars in free agency this offseason. Compare this to last year, when free agents walked away with a combined total of over $1 billion and we can see how different the market will be this time around.
This plays perfectly into the Warriors’ hands, as their only chance of signing additional talent this season lies in their ability to acquire someone with their $6 million dollar mid-level exception. Normally, this wouldn’t be enough to target any game-changing prospects. This year, that may be different.
Names such as Danilo Gallinari and Christian Wood are already rumored to be available for the MLE while other players like Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol could be on the Warriors’ radar as well. Signing any of these players for the MLE would be a massive steal and exactly the type of luck the Dubs need to build a championship-caliber roster.
The Warriors are a dream destination for players looking to win a championship. Agreeing on a minimum deal for one-year and a chance to capture a title could be all it takes to draw in some skilled role players.