In the long run, it could prove difficult for the Golden State Warriors to sustain maximum contracts for all four of their stars. Could one or two of them be forced to take pay cuts to keep the band together?
The Golden State Warriors have four All-Stars and All-NBA players in their projected starting five for next season: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
They have assembled the most talented quartet in recent history by drafting three and signing one in free agency. On paper, that doesn’t sound so bad, right?
The 2004 Los Angeles Lakers, for example, had a Super 4 with three stars acquired via free agency and one via draft. The 2010 Miami Heat formed a Big 3 with two stars signed via free agency. The 2008 Boston Celtics put together a Big 3 with only one homegrown star.
On the face of it, the Warriors have built a super team the right way. The San Antonio Spurs way. San Antonio has signed only one All-Star level free agent, LaMarcus Aldridge, in the last 30 years.
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George Gervin and Artis Gilmore in the mid-1980s were the last Spurs all-stars who weren’t homegrown products.
So why exactly are detractors trying to trash the league for one team’s offseason success? The Warriors have a proficient general manager, Bob Myers, who was able to move contracts and clear cap room for a once-in-a-generation talent that most teams would trade their entire squads for.
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Just a few years ago, wide-ranging efforts were taken to curb the dominance of big market teams.
There were provisions made to the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to allow small market teams to retain their stars; case in point, Anthony Davis’ five-year extension with the New Orleans Pelicans.
In the past, a superstar like Davis could have maximized his earnings playing in Los Angeles or New York.
Also, it’s unheard for the Portland Trail Blazers to splurge so much money, but they spent lavishly to retain Allen Crabbe before inking C.J. McCollum to a massive extension.
The Warriors, a small market team until recently, took advantage of the CBA, groomed homegrown stars and took care of them financially. Kevin Durant, a free agent, just happened to enjoy their playing style and joined them. Why exactly are Warriors the villains, again?
Top class front office
As Yahoo Sports’ Dan Devine aptly detailed, the Warriors benefited from a shrewd front office.
"“Warriors were only in position to capitalize on that unlikely series of events thanks to sharp management from a Warriors front office led by owner Joe Lacob and general manager Bob Myers that nailed its drafts, got both Thompson and Green to take slightly less than their maximum possible salaries to afford a bit of wiggle room for future negotiations just in case, turned future draft picks and cap fodder into the indispensable Andre Iguodala, and set the stage for the unbelievable coup (Kevin Durant) that followed.”"
The Warriors have Green on the books for another four years. They saved some cap by signing Thompson to an early extension in 2014. Thompson is on the books for another three full seasons.
Curry and Andre Iguodala need to be taken care of in 2017. Durant could opt out of his deal and seek a more lucrative contract, since he would be eligible for 35 percent of the rising salary-cap.
Going by their track record, one would presume that Myers & Co. should be able to keep the band intact in 2017. However, they would be faced with a series of challenges.
For starters, the projected salary-cap for the 2017-18 season has lowered from $107 million to $102 million. They would have to create $33.5 million in cap space if Durant seeks a new contract.
Unless Iguodala takes a massive pay cut, it’s nearly impossible for the Warriors to sign both Durant and Curry to fresh max contracts.
Most analysts feel Iguodala is Warriors’ most valuable asset in the postseason when defensive stoppers, especially those that can guard LeBron James, are priceless.
So can the Warriors really afford to lose Iguodala? Probably not.
Besides salary-cap challenges, the Warriors are set to face the wrath of 29 other teams who would like nothing more than an implosion or contractual disputes to break up the mighty team assembled in Oakland.
New CBA expected in December
In December, the owners of the NBA could reach a new agreement before the opt-out deadline, ruling out the possibility of a lockout next year. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, there are “enough positives for many to believe a deal is around the corner.”
Last month, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stressed that the Super Warriors are not good for the league.
"“We’ll see what happens in Golden State. You had a great, great chemistry among a group of players and you’re adding another superstar to the mix, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens. But just to be absolutely clear, I do not think that’s ideal from a league standpoint.”"
NBA commissioner Adam Silver comments on some of the CBA factors that allowed KD to join the Warriors pic.twitter.com/Sr1CpHabPE
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 13, 2016
However, Silver’s personal views don’t reflect the stance of the owners. Even though Silver has stressed the need for “competitive balance”, it would be difficult to restrict Golden State from working within a system that has also benefitted a ton of other teams.
Last year, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with a payroll of $107 million against a salary cap of $70 million, paid a record $54 million in luxury taxes to put their championship team together.
In 2017-18, the Trail Blazers will set a new record for the highest payroll. They have committed nearly $142 million to keep their young team together. This is the Trail Blazers we’re talking about!
What this proves is that the CBA doesn’t benefit only the Warriors. Even though Silver has called for the need to “re-examine elements of the system” in the new CBA, every team is armed with the same amount of money and resources, and benefitting just as much as Golden State.
The Warriors just happened to draft really well. And Silver, himself, has conceded that the situation is “an anomaly,” hinting that there’s little the league can do to break them up.
"“You have a unique situation with the Warriors. In that case, you have three All-Stars who were all drafted by the team — Steph at 7, Klay at 11 and Draymond at 35. So then you add one free agent joining a team whose highest draft pick in terms of All-Stars was 7. So that is a bit anomalous in terms of the success of that team.”"
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Silver makes an excellent point. The
and
have two former No. 1 picks in their ranks. The rising
have the previous two No. 1 overall picks.
Andrew Bogut, acquired via trade, was the only No. 1 pick on last year’s Warriors team.
So why exactly are the Warriors receiving so much flak?
There are only two realistic reasons for the possible disbandment of the Warriors: 1) They fail to click as a team and implode or 2) one of the stars wishes to be an alpha male elsewhere.
Regardless of amendments to the new CBA, financial reasons won’t be the red herring for the Warriors. The likes of Thompson and Green have already taken less for the collective good of the team. It won’t be surprising to see Curry, Igudala or even Durant forego some money next year.
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All 30 teams are on the same footing. The new CBA can’t negatively impact only the Warriors.