Which Warriors Are Expendable in Golden State's Championship Quest?
The Golden State Warriors have gotten out to their hottest start in franchise history, which validates their position as a true championship contender. The team has gelled together and is thriving under the leadership of new head coach Steve Kerr.
Klay Thompson is validating his brand new contract with superb play on both sides of the court. Draymond Green is taking full advantage of the opportunity provided because of the hamstring injury to David Lee.
Stephen Curry is emerging as a superstar and challenging the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul for the top point guard. Andrew Bogut is rediscovering his offensive abilities and is enjoying his new role.
The team has yet to face their first real struggle of the season, but it is never too early to ask who may be expendable on this roster. If and when the Dubs need to pull the trigger, which player is fair game?
It is still early in the season, and the Warriors will have obstacles to overcome. The chemistry is tight on this team, but opposing teams will find weaknesses to exploit.
Will the Warriors adapt or will they go acquire the necessary piece? Let’s take a look at who may be expendable.
Untouchables
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The Warriors have a few players on the squad that are not tradable. Period.
Offers would have to be so high that the Warriors would probably be forced to go over the luxury tax level, but with the chemistry in place, that prize would take a longer time to adjust and probably not provide adequate results.
Curry is obviously the first name that gets mentioned. He is a potential MVP candidate, the starting point guard from last season’s All-Star team and a player who is redefining his ceiling. He is also signed to a favorable deal that the team offered after major ankle concerns.
Thompson, the other Splash Brother fresh off signing a four-year, $70 million contract, is not going anywhere either. He is making huge strides this season by putting it all together on both sides of the court, including getting to the line 4.8 times per game so far.
The last immovable piece is the defensive anchor of the court, who has now transitioned to an offensive elixir, Bogut. He is revitalizing his play as the facilitator on offense, and the team looks lost without him dispensing the ball.
These three players have significantly lifted the team’s play and performance, and as a result, they will not be leaving the Bay Area anytime soon.
Harrison Barnes
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Harrison Barnes is in his third year with the Warriors and is still looking for the breakout season.
His talent was on display in his rookie year during the 2012-13 playoffs, when he averaged 16.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 1.3 APG. His potential looked limitless, until he was forced into the sixth-man role after the free-agent acquisition of Andre Iguodala the following season.
Barnes was more ghost than human last season, because his former coach Mark Jackson forced him into isolation plays. He also didn’t have enough chances to create, since the second team was without a legitimate point guard to run the offense.
This season, he has emerged with a positive spin and is playing at a higher level than his rookie season. He is averaging career highs with a line of 11.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 1.5 APG through November 27.
Coach Kerr will need to really look at his play to determine if Barnes can take it to the next level, or if he is already plateauing. His value around the league is at a lower point now, but if he can play consistently at a higher level, that value will be raised.
With Barnes’ athleticism and skill set, is he replaceable? Can Iguodala replace him and provide the same utility and cohesiveness on the court?
Barnes is still on a rookie contract and with potential salary cap issues looming in the near future, he may get the nod over Iguodala. Barnes just has to prove his worthiness on the court.
Andre Iguodala
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Andre Iguodala was the prized free-agent acquisition in the summer of 2012, when the Warriors were fighting hard for the services of Dwight Howard. After a sound first season with the team as a starter, he has been moved to the sixth-man role.
The move hurt the value of last season’s NBA All-Defensive First Team player, as he did not impress the team with the transition. He plays a similar style as second-team point guard Shaun Livingston, which occasionally cannibalizes Iguodala’s efforts when the two are on the court together.
However, Iguodala is a point-forward, who can be multifaceted, as someone who can play four positions on the floor and handle the ball. With rock-solid defense and playmaking skills, he is still a valuable commodity.
Per Diamond Leung of the San Jose Mercury News, Kerr feels good that Iguodala is fitting in to his new role.
"The sacrifice that he's made for the team establishes everything that we're about, that this team is buying into," Kerr said. "If we want to win at the elite level, it's about sacrifice.
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Iguodala is another tough decision of whether to let go. He has a sizeable contract, but he is a selfless player, who is definitely pushing his teammates to do better things.
He is a player who can be plugged in at almost any position except center. As the season rolls along and bodies are worn down, Iguodala is an even more valuable piece of the puzzle.
Even though he is only in the second year of a four-year deal, he signed a declining contract. Therefore, he will be paid less each upcoming season, which will benefit the Warriors or any potential trading partner.
David Lee
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Lee is the most talked about Warrior, when it comes to the person who may be shipped out. He has the highest annual salary, but the Dubs are succeeding without him to earn their best record in team history through 14 games.
He has played only seven minutes this season because of the hamstring injury, and his production has not been completely missed. Green has brought his energy and high basketball IQ to the floor every night and provided significant results.
Lee's return should be a major self-adjustment, as he will have to join the second team. As evidenced by the play of the team without Bogut in the lineup, the Warriors need a big man that can steer the team to success.
He has been a starter for the Warriors for every game until this season. His ball-handling skills could pay dividends on the second team, as he solidifies a unit with Andre Iguodala and company.
Steve Kerr is excited about his return per Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle.
"We miss his scoring. We miss him being a low-post threat. We’re different without him,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “Fortunately, we’ve been able to win, and Draymond (Green) and Harrison (Barnes) have each given us a different look at the '4.’ That’s helped us develop a different dynamic — sort of a space-and-stretch team — but it will be great to have David back with the rebounding, low-post scoring and passing.
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Lee is a glass cleaner and a prolific scorer, as his name is the most closely associated with the double-double metric on the team. He provides value and management could use that to trade him for a younger, developing, floor-stretching forward from a non-playoff roster.
He will become a more valuable asset towards the trade deadline, as he will become an expiring contract next season. Teams looking to recruit big-name free agents will be game for his contract and services.
Lee is the oldest player on the roster, but he is only 31 years young. Age should not be a factor in attracting potential suitors.
Draymond Green
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The player that the Warriors do not want to give up makes this list only because he is playing in the last year of his three-year rookie contract. He is significantly outplaying his contract that pays him only $915,243 this season.
Green has a Mensa-type basketball IQ when he is on the court and is not afraid to get dirty. He is usually the first person in a scrum and isn’t afraid of showing emotion.
This season, he was the choice for the temporary starting power forward while Lee is recuperating from his hamstring injury. Since Lee has only seen the court for seven minutes, Green has taken a hold of the position with both hands.
He is a very strong defender who can guard four or even five positions on the court. He is relentless as Leung tweeted out that assistant coach Ron Adams told KNBR that Green was “kind of indefatiguable.”
He has filled the need for Kerr’s stretch-four, as Green can knock down the three-pointer, but he can also handle the ball. His stat line on the season is currently 12.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 3.1 APG.
On top of that, he currently sits third in the NBA in per game plus/minus.
So why is he on this list again? He is here only if there is a potential snag in negotiations for a new contract.
Green will become a restricted free agent at season’s end, and the Warriors don’t want to lose this valuable commodity. His situation looks more favorable, because he switched over to Wasserman Media Group, which is headed by general manager Bob Myers’ old boss, Arn Tellum.
And his salary will probably go from a little below $1 million to somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 million.
Deal or No Deal?
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The candidates are out there, but the Warriors are currently in a waiting game. The team doesn’t have any major injury issues, and the new system put in place by Coach Kerr is flowing smoothly.
Looking at the suggested players available, it breaks down to a duplicity issue. The Warriors have seasoned veterans in Iguodala and Lee, and they each have a third-year replacement who is starting in both of their places.
Does GM Bob Myers unload any of his seasoned veterans or does he choose Barnes or Green to go? Or does he stick with this roster whether or not they can take home an NBA title?
As it stands right now, Myers should be having conversations with his fellow general managers to see who is available. With that list, he can see if there is a potential fit.
The chemistry is so tight with this team right now, it would be hard to ship one of the impact players to another team. However, if Myers can get a more athletic player who succeeds on both ends of the court, it might be worth the gamble.
I feel that if anyone leaves the Bay, it will most likely be Lee, and the Warriors will need to acquire an athletic player that is not a fit with their current team or someone that is having contract problems.
Lee is used to the rumors, as he has been dangled in trade talks during the past two summers.
The biggest benefit of that potential acquisition is freeing up salary cap space and potentially giving Kerr the the missing link to win a title.
That being said, the championship quest will be an exciting time in Oakland.
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