Golden State Warriors: Setting expectations for pending free agents

Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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Good as gone: James Michael McAdoo and Matt Barnes

The Warriors brought in Matt Barnes as an emergency injury replacement for Durant in early March. While he did appear in all five NBA Finals games, he never exceeded three minutes and nine seconds of action.

A healthy Durant, along with Barnes’ clearly deteriorating skill-set, makes his return exceedingly unlikely.

Steve Kerr has shown a strange affinity for James Michael McAdoo over the last three years, but it’s hard to imagine the Warriors extending him his $1.7 million qualifying offer after paying $3.5 million for the rights to Jordan Bell. Bell replaces McAdoo as the best small-ball 5 option on Kerr’s bench.

If either receives a contract from the Warriors, or any other team for that matter, it will be for their respective minimums.

Projections: One year, $2.3 million (Barnes); one year, $1.5 million (McAdoo)

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