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3 Offseason tasks the Golden State Warriors should already be working on

By Peter O'Keefe

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes up for a shot on Donte DiVincenzo #0 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on February 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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 - FEBRUARY 28: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes up for a shot on Donte DiVincenzo #0 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on February 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. 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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The Golden State Warriors are unlikely to be able to retain Donte DiVincenzo this offseason. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors are unlikely to be able to retain Donte DiVincenzo this offseason. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. A contingency plan for the departure of Donte DiVincenzo.

As much as Warrior fans may not want to think about it, the reality is that we’re likely in the final period of Donte DiVincenzo as a member of the franchise. The 26-year-old has been everything and more that Golden State would have expected when they signed him last offseason, but his production is likely to price the Warriors out of his services this time around.

DiVincenzo does have a player option for $4.7 million, yet his form this season is likely to see him attract offers at at least two, if not three times that amount. When he signed with Golden State last season, DiVincenzo was coming off an injury-plagued 18 months that also saw him moved from Milwaukee to Sacramento.

He’s now rediscovered the consistency that saw him as a key contributor to the Bucks’ 2020-2021 championship-winning season. Aside from a hiccup to start the season, DiVincenzo has now played 66 of the Warriors’ 76 games, including 31 as a starter.

Donte DiVincenzo deserves a payday the Golden State Warriors will be unlikely to afford come free agency. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Donte DiVincenzo deserves a payday the Golden State Warriors will be unlikely to afford come free agency. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Golden State don’t hold bird rights on DiVincenzo, meaning they’ll be limited to offering him 120% of his this year’s salary ($5.4 million) come free agency. That’s unlikely to get it done unless he really loves it in The Bay, and the Warriors’ re-acquisition of Gary Payton II is a sign the franchise knows it’s highly doubtful DiVincenzo’s with them next season.

But while Payton and DiVincenzo bring similar defensive intensity and ability, they’re still different very different players. Golden State could well do with another combo guard to help Jordan Poole in the backcourt off the bench — someone who can handle the ball a little, but is also adept on catch-and-shoot threes and can take opposition guards defensively.

The facts are that those players are scarce when we’re talking about minimum to low level salary. Perhaps there’s another player out there that’s looking to revitalize their value in similar fashion, or a veteran looking for a title if the Warriors show they’re still in the window.

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