The Golden State Warriors have had a largely quiet offseason, however they need to be thanking the basketball gods that they did not make an enormous mistake. Simply final summer season, the Warriors practically traded Kevon Looney, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, plus picks to the LA Clippers for Paul George.
As an alternative, the Clippers rejected their provide, and George entered free company and signed a 5-year, $294 million contract. One yr later, the Warriors putting out on George is trying significantly better now.
The Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler midseason, and whereas they did not go far within the playoffs, at the very least they do not have the NBA’s worst contract. The Sixers pays George a totally assured $54 million on common over the subsequent 4 years.
Regardless of that, he had simply had left knee surgical procedure in mid-July, and that would trigger him to overlook the beginning of subsequent season. That is after he missed 43 video games final season.
At 35 years outdated and with accidents piling up, it is unlikely that he’ll ever be the identical participant he was earlier than becoming a member of the Sixers. That proves that the Warriors dodged a significant bullet.
The Warriors dodged a significant bullet by not buying and selling for Paul George
Golden State should still be a rotation participant or two away from being a contender, however, fortunately, they did not burn any property within the deal for George. Whereas they gave up a first-round choose within the deal for Butler, they nonetheless have most of their draft picks going ahead.
That is vital, as a result of it appears that evidently they’re retaining an eye fixed towards the longer term with their finest participant, Steph Curry, being 37 years outdated. Butler is not any spring rooster, both, with him being 36 years outdated.
They possible aren’t going to get a lot youthful both, with Jonathan Kuminga doubtlessly being traded this summer season and the attainable additions of Al Horford and Damian Lillard. Even so, each strikes would enable them to keep up their flexibility versus the Philadelphia 76ers, who might be handcuffed by George’s ugly contract.
George has 4 years and $216 million remaining on his contract. And please imagine me once I say that he’ll do every thing attainable to gather on the rest of his deal, even when he is not the identical caliber of participant he was when he first signed it.
Mix that with Joel Embiid’s contract, which pays him $64 million on common over the subsequent 4 years, and the Sixers future seems bleak. That is with them doubtlessly having practically $120 million in useless wage going ahead.
Evaluate that to Golden State, who has been reluctant to increase Kuminga at $30 million yearly, and it appears that evidently they’re making much better choices. It additionally helps them hold their powder dry for an even bigger transfer down the highway that would assist them get again into rivalry.
