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The downside to Donte DiVincenzo’s excellent form for the Golden State Warriors

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Golden State Warriors makes a three-point basket over Justin Holiday #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime at Chase Center on January 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. The Warriors won in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 02: Donte DiVincenzo #0 of the Golden State Warriors makes a three-point basket over Justin Holiday #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime at Chase Center on January 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California. The Warriors won in double overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Donte DiVincenzo has proven a savvy pickup by Bob Myers and the Golden State Warriors’ front office during the offseason, playing a major role as a two-way guard with versatility.

In more recent times, the 25-year-old has stepped into the starting line-up in the absence of key players, performing brilliantly to help a recent resurgence from the reigning NBA champions. However, there is one negative to the quality of his play across 29 games this season.

Donte DiVincenzo’s performances this season could price him out of the Golden State Warriors’ budget come 2023 Free Agency.

The 2021 NBA champion is clearly a ‘Steve Kerr guy’, and it’s easy to envision him playing well for the Warriors for years to come. His capacity to impact the game in a variety of ways makes him a perfect fit for the Golden State system, but the pairing of player and franchise may not last as long as many wish.

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Golden State signed DiVincenzo to a two-year, $9.2 million deal in free agency, but the second-year is a player option for $4.7 million. That was a discounted rate anyway given his injury worries and up-and-down season with Milwaukee then Sacramento, but his form has now made the contract look like a steal.

It almost guarantees that DiVincenzo will opt out of his player option for next season, allowing him to hit the market again. With no bird rights on him, Golden State will be limited to offering him 120% of this season’s contract — that’s about $5.4 million.

That’s way unders for what he’s producing at the moment, and it’s looking like another Gary Payton II situation where an opposing team offers $8-10 million per season. At least the Warriors could have matched Portland’s offer to Payton if they’d wished, but they’ll have no such luxuries with DiVincenzo.

Who knows, his play as a starter, and the fact he was one for the entire of the Bucks’ championship-winning season before injury, could lead to a team offering him that role and $12-15 million per season.

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While free agency will be the last thing on their mind as they seek to maintain their resurgence through the second-half of the season, the Warriors will need to have some insurance plans in place for the inevitable time when DiVincenzo opts out of his contract.

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