Playing Keep or Cut with Each of Golden State Warriors' Free Agents
The Golden State Warriors are in a serious dogfight with the hopes of winning their first NBA title in 40 years, but they will still need to make the decisions of who to keep and who to cut for next season.
The Warriors are finally giving the loyal fanbase its just desserts with a franchise-record 67-win season and an appearance in the NBA Finals.
Having a roster loaded with young talent and momentum on its side, general manager Bob Myers needs to continue his run of smart decisions. He needs to reload with specific skill sets to try and return to the Finals next season.
The Warriors will most likely be hard-pressed against the $81 million luxury-tax limit with the Klay Thompson extension beginning next year and the potential big payday for Draymond Green.
David Lee plays a major part here in the future payroll, as he will become an expiring contract at the end of the season. He could become an enticement for a team looking to be a major player in free agency, when the salary cap makes its big jump in 2016-17.
Players with Options
Golden State has a need and an excess with its options. Marreese Speights is a valuable bench contributor, while Brandon Rush hasn’t spent much time off of it this season.
Speights has a team option, where the Warriors can pay him $3.85 million for one more season. Rush, on the other hand, has a player option that will put $1.3 million in his pocket.
Speights has earned the “Mo Buckets” nickname with his shooting abilities and way to stretch out the floor. Per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Stephen Curry told him that “you’re the biggest shooting guard in the league.”
Speights averaged a career-high 10.4 points to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He played both center and power forward in head coach Steve Kerr’s lineups.
His price tag is not steep for a bench contributor, and GM Myers would be smart to have one more go with Speights.
Rush may very well do his best Andris Biedrins’ impression and just take the cash. He has not fully recovered from that horrific left knee injury he suffered with the Warriors in 2012.
He's had his worst year as a professional, averaging 0.9 points, 1.2 boards and 0.4 assists in 8.2 minute while playing in just 33 games and scoring a season total of just 30 points.
It is his call, but the Warriors may just release him if he goes for the small cash grab.
Verdicts: Keep (Speights) / Maybe Keep (Rush)
Free Agents
Ognjen Kuzmic
Ognjen Kuzmic is a developmental project who hasn’t bared fruit yet. He is a restricted free agent, so Golden State could shell out a few more bucks to see if he can make a contribution next season.
He hasn’t had the chance to show his skill level in Oakland. He averaged only 1.3 points, 1.1 boards and 0.4 assists in just 4.5 minutes.
Oh, and he only played in 16 games this season. He spent a majority of his time in Santa Cruz, winning a championship with the D-League team.
If the Warriors want to keep him and see how he matures in a crowded frontcourt that contains Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli and potentially Speights, they can pay Kuzmic $1.147 million to retain his services, if another team doesn’t pay more.
There are only 15 roster spots available, and the Warriors will most likely use one of them with the No. 30 pick of the NBA draft. Kuzmic will stay only if Golden State can’t find another player that is more valuable.
Verdict: Keep If Necessary
Justin Holiday is not getting any time on the floor in the NBA Finals, but he built a case to return to the team next season. He relies on his defensive abilities with a long wingspan to hold down his man or switch effectively.
He has also raised his confidence from the field during the season. He is comfortable spreading the floor and doing his best impression of Splash Brother No. 3.
Holiday put up averages of 4.3 points, 1.2 boards, 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals in 11.1 minutes. He is a restricted free agent who has the same base as Kuzmic.
Since Holiday is a younger and quicker player with room to develop, expect him to have more leverage in regard to being re-signed.
Per Jimmy Durkin of the Mercury News, Kerr wants to see Holiday succeed.
"He's such a conscientious, smart player. This is really his first year. He wants to do well. He wants to please everybody. He doesn't want to make mistakes. Every once in a while I yell at him for a mistake. I yelled at him the other night for a bad pass on a two-on-one because I want him to succeed.
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Verdict: Keep
Leandro Barbosa
Leandro Barbosa served his purpose as the experienced veteran on this younger squad. He has resurrected his “Brazilian Blur” status with significant offensive contributions at times during the season.
He also took the veteran’s minimum salary to rejoin Kerr and provide guidance. He made just $1.45 million, while putting up 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 14.9 minutes.
He had a bit of an up-and-down year, as he lost his job to Holiday for a while. He regained his bench spot and has been used to push the pace.
Besides his experience, he exemplified his work ethic to his teammates. Per Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle, Kerr raved about what he brings.
"He’s one of our leaders, despite the fact that he doesn’t play a ton. He leads that bench group. He understands the value and the importance of the work ethic for the guys who don’t see a lot of playing time. He started that routine. It’s a shooting contest, competitive and fun.
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GM Myers will have to make the call on whether to bring back the 32-year-old with potentially Holiday looking to take that bench spot. Barbosa is still fast, but can he be as productive with another year under his belt?
The Warriors should probably pass on retaining his services, even if he is willing to take the veteran’s minimum.
Verdict: Cut
Draymond Green
Green is going to get a major payday. Period.
He is a demonstrative player who excels on both sides of the court. He is not too small to go up against the top big men, and he will find a way to score, even from deep.
He does all of the little things a coach craves. As a result, Kerr called him the team’s heartbeat.
This season, Green put up a line of 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks in 31.5 minutes.
The Mercury News’ Diamond Leung tweeted that Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal said Golden State would match any offer for Green.
Green has the grit and a tremendous basketball IQ to move this team forward for many years to come. He is the stretch 4 who can play three spots and guard all five players on the floor. He is a vocal leader on a burgeoning team that includes arguably the most dangerous backcourt in the Association.
The Warriors will give him a handsome raise, which will probably look like a great deal after the salary cap jump in 2016-17.
Verdict: KEEP
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