The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA over the last decade. Their four championships and six finals appearances in nine years speak for themselves. It is a credit to the entire organization, and the Dubs just lost a key piece of it with the departure of Bob Myers.
Myers was the architect of their run that featured plenty of genius moves. The 48-year-old was regarded as one of the best decision-makers in the league, and he won’t be easy to replace.
His successor has a difficult job in store. The NBA created a second tax apron (subscription required) in the new CBA that is a direct target of the highest spending teams like the Dubs. Now, there will be severe roster restrictions for those clubs, and it will likely cause them to curtail their spending. The penalties are expected to be phased in over two years, but the Warriors have decisions to make and salaries to trim soon.
Ranking Warriors from least to most likely to be traded to shed salary
No way and not worth it: Stephen Curry, Moses Moody, Donte DiVincenzo, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and Ryan Rollins
Curry is the Warriors’ highest-paid player for good reason. The nine-time All-Star has been their best player throughout the four championships, and Dubs are not trading him under any circumstances. Curry is still elite and the face of the franchise.
Moody continues to improve, and the 21-year-old is set to make $3.9 million next season. The Warriors are not acquiring anyone with his upside at that salary.
Donte DiVincenzo has a $4.7 million player option for next season, and he is on a team-friendly contract. The Warriors are hoping he returns, but the 6’4 guard may opt out for more money in free agency.
Baldwin Jr. and Rollins are on rookie deals, so shedding their salary does little to the Warriors’ books. The other seven players under contract are all candidates to be moved if Golden State wants to trim its payroll this summer, and here is a ranking from least to most likely to be sent packing.
7. Andrew Wiggins
This may come as a surprise because Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have played key roles in all four championships, but both players are in their mid-30s and need new contracts. Assuming they do not want to stick around at an extreme discount, the Dubs will only have to pay more for what could be declining years for both players.
Wiggins is 28 years old, under contract until at least 2026, and makes under $28.2 million for each of the next three years. The 6’7 wing has become an elite shooter since joining the Warriors and his defense is key when facing bigger wings like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum. Wiggins is in the middle of his prime and provides value on both ends of the floor.
The Warriors do not win the championship in 2022 without Andrew Wiggins, and they need him on the roster moving forward to stay in contention. Draymond and Klay are both going to want more money than Wiggins, but the 28-year-old is likely to be the better player in three years if he is not already.
Andrew Wiggins’ extension should keep him on the Golden State Warriors for the foreseeable future, even if the Dubs decide to shred some salary.
6. Draymond Green
The Warriors may not have to trade Green as the four-time All-Star has a $27.5 million player option for next season. He could opt out and leave the front office with an extremely difficult decision.
Green was upfront about wanting to be a “Warrior for life” after his team was eliminated by the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. Does that mean the heart and soul of the team’s four championships is willing to take a bit less to remain with his only NBA franchise? It sounds that way, but nothing is certain.
Draymond has caused a few headaches in the Bay Area, but they would not be the same team without him. His elite basketball intelligence, playmaking ability, leadership, and defense are nearly impossible to match. Golden State cannot find a replacement. The options are to keep Green or go in a different direction.
The 33-year-old is going to want an extension, but can the two sides agree on a number? Golden State has $209.9 million committed in salaries for next season if Green opts in, which is projected to be $34.6 million over the second tax apron. The restrictions will certainly set in if Green is back, but the Warriors cannot afford to lose him.
5. Kevon Looney
Looney’s transformation from the last pick of the first round in 2015 to struggling to stay on the floor to an ironman starting center has been miraculous. The 6’9 big man has become an elite rebounder, skilled playmaker, and underrated defender over his eight years with Dubs.
Last season, he averaged 7.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 23.9 minutes per game, which were all career highs.
He is set to make $7.5 million next year, with $3 million guaranteed for the 2024-25 season. Looney’s list of suitors would be vast if the Warriors make him available, but why would they part with a starter on a reasonable contract? Looney has figured out how to play off Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, and replacing him would be difficult.
Golden State could be the first $500 million team when factoring in their salaries and luxury tax penalties if they do not trim salary. Even Looney’s $7.5 million takes a significant chunk off their tax bill, which is why he makes this list. The Warriors have to consider everything this summer.
Expect Kevon Looney to be back with the Dubs next season. Can the 27-year-old take another step forward in year nine? Do not rule it out, as he just keeps getting better.
4. Jonathan Kuminga
It is time to put the two timelines process in the trash. The Warriors should push their chips into the middle for a final three-year run with Stephen Curry. They will struggle to add talent and get under the second tax apron until the two-time MVP retires, so why not try to bring another championship or two to the Bay Area in the process?
Kuminga had an up-and-down second NBA season that saw him average 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20.8 minutes per game during the regular season. The 6’8 forward struggled to crack the rotation in the playoffs, which leaves his future with the Dubs somewhat in doubt.
He is set to make $6.0 million next season with a $7.6 million club option for the 2024-25 season before Kuminga becomes a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025. Keeping him beyond that could mean dishing out a significant raise to the 6’8 forward, which the Golden State Warriors certainly cannot do.
Could they try to cash in on his potential and trade him for a future draft pick to lighten their financial burden slightly? Jonathan Kuminga still has plenty of potential, but where does he fit moving forward? Can the Warriors find a significant role for him in the regular and postseason? If not, now is the time to move on.
Expect the Dubs to keep Jonathan Kuminga because of his salary. They will likely look to deal away players making more money to get their finances in order, which could open up more playing time for the 20-year-old wing.
3. Klay Thompson
Would the Warriors trade Klay? He is one of the best shooters in NBA history and remains a key piece for Golden State. Thompson missed two full seasons after tearing his ACL and Achilles in back-to-back years, but the 6’6 wing barely missed a beat after recovering. Last season, he averaged 21.9 points in 33.0 minutes per game while making 41.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
The Warriors would love to keep Thompson, but he is on an expiring contract that is set to pay him $43.2 million next season. Klay is eligible for an extension this offseason, but can the two sides work out a new deal? Thompson is still an elite scorer and shot-maker, but his defense has slipped since the injuries. The Warriors cannot afford to pay him $40-plus million per season, but is there a number the two sides can agree on?
If not, the Warriors should explore the trade market. Thompson’s ability to shoot on the move and consistently hit over 40 percent from 3-point range will have value around the league. How much? That remains to be seen, but trading Klay could be the key to getting under the second tax apron. Golden State wants to compete, so they will want something in return, but saving significant dollars will likely be the top motivator in making the deal.
Klay Thompson’s extension talks are certainly a storyline to watch heading into next season because they will have ripple effects across the NBA.
2. Gary Payton II
The Warriors let Payton II walk after winning the title in 2022, only to bring him back in a midseason trade. The 6’3 guard is an elite defender that can space the floor, but there are significant drawbacks. He has never played more than 17.6 minutes per game for an entire season, and the 30-year-old has appeared in more than 30 games just once since entering the NBA in 2016.
Payton II is set to make $8.7 million next season and has a $9.1 million player option for the 2024-25 campaign. With him on the roster, the Dubs are set to pay over $230 million in luxury tax penalties alone. Getting rid of even his salary decreases their tax bill significantly, along with dropping them closer to that second tax apron.
Payton II’s role and injury history should determine his fate with the Warriors. If he cannot play more than 20 minutes per game and struggles to stay active, Golden State cannot afford to have him on their roster. Yes, he could be an impactful playoff contributor, but only in a small role.
Finding a trade that ships Gary Payton II elsewhere should not be challenging as teams are intrigued by his defense. That should let the Golden State Warriors save some money and opens up space for a veteran minimum free agent to fill The Mitten’s role.
1. Jordan Poole
Poole begins a four-year $128 million extension next season, and the 23-year-old is the face of the Warriors’ second timeline. He continues to improve, including averaging over 20 points per game for the first time last season, but the 6’4 guard struggled mightily in the playoffs. It was a brief 13-game sample, but Poole shot just 34.1 percent from the field and played just 21.8 minutes per game.
It became clear that head coach Steve Kerr trusted the old guard, and that was who he was going to prioritize when they needed it most. Poole was not part of that group, and it created serious questions about his future with his extension kicking in.
Expect Golden State to shop the 23-year-old guard this summer in hopes of both shedding some salary and adding a key rotation piece or two that can improve the Warriors’ title odds. It will not be an easy trade to make after his postseason performance, but teams will still be eager to get a 23-year-old who just averaged over 20 a night in the regular season.
Will the Golden State Warriors look to shed salary this summer? Do they attempt to get under the second tax apron or just limit their luxury tax bill? There are no easy answers as the Dubs look for their eighth title in franchise history, so stay tuned for all the latest.
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The Golden State Warriors have one of the most storied histories in the league. Legends such as Wilt Chamberlain have graced the uniform.