Hoops Habit
Fansided

Golden State Warriors: What Extension Should Festus Ezeli Get?

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) dunks the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) dunks the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Golden State Warriors
Mar 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

How Much Should Ezeli Get?

So what kind of extension should Ezeli expect? An extension for Barnes is probably a higher priority for GM Bob Myers, which could leave Ezeli to restricted free agency next summer. But with the cap rising the way that it is, the Warriors might prefer to take the hit sooner rather than later.

There aren’t many similar contracts to compare Ezeli to, but the new annual salary for the Warriors’ backup center could very easily approach eight figures. Something in the $7-10 million range seems appropriate for an Ezeli extension, barring any injury setbacks.

Per Basketball Insiders, the Dubs are already on the books for a guaranteed $74.8 million in 2016-17, without including Barnes’ extension/$5.2 million qualifying offer; Ezeli’s extension/$3 million qualifying offer; Jason Thompson‘s non-guaranteed $7 million; Shaun Livingston‘s non-guaranteed $5.8 million; or Chris Babb and James Michael McAdoo, who will also be restricted free agents.

With the cap tentatively set around $90 million, a hypothetical four-year, $60 million extension for Barnes would eat up most of Golden State’s remaining cap space. That means whatever Ezeli earns would send the Dubs over the cap, though the luxury tax threshold is projected to be around $108 million.

The Warriors may not be able to work out extensions for both Barnes and Ezeli, even if neither one would kick in until the 2016-17 season. But Myers has repeatedly said he’ll deal with the luxury tax to keep a title contender intact; re-signing Barnes and Ezeli to extensions now — rather than REALLY paying up for them next summer — is the best way to do that.

Next: NBA: Complete Offseason Grades For All 30 Teams

More from Hoops Habit

Home/Golden State Warriors