The priority for the Warriors this offseason is to re-sign stars Kevin Durant and Steph Curry to keep their top four players intact for a run at back-to-back titles next season. However, the Warriors’ fifth-best player and the 2015 Finals MVP, Andre Iguodala, is also up for a new deal this summer and indications are that Golden State is conflicted on what to do with their best bench player.
Iguodala is a key cog in the Warriors’ wheel, although less so now that Durant is in Oakland. This is likely Iguodala’s last chance at a major contract and, with two titles under his belt in Golden State, no one could fault him for looking at other options. The onus, then, falls on the Warriors to make at least a competitive offer compared to what he can receive on the open market.
They can do that and go further into the luxury tax thanks to Iguodala’s Bird rights (and Durant signing for less than the max), but according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania, there’s some concern in Golden State about how much their tax bill will be next season.
Sources: Warriors' luxury tax moving forward is concern for Golden State and owner Joe Lacob in re-signing Andre Iguodala.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2017
With Iguodala open to leaving Warriors and league interest accelerated, he plans to field offers at midnight Saturday, league sources say. https://t.co/TVUs6GFwkz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2017
Iguodala could very well command more than $15 million per year deal from another team based on his value as a wing defender. For Lacob to suddenly be stricken with short pockets right after winning a second title in three years on the team that has seen its value increase more than any team in the league over the past five years seems to be a weak move. The Warriors are the third most valuable franchise in the NBA and have seen that valuation skyrocket thanks to this recent run.
The luxury tax is very penalizing for repeat offenders and that cost will become very real for the Warriors, but most repeat offenders aren’t also dynasties that bring in cash by the truckload.
The Warriors may not need Iguodala to win another championship, but losing him makes them far more vulnerable should something happen to one of their stars. Iguodala is Golden State’s glue that holds a bench unit that is otherwise fairly weak together beyond he and Shaun Livingston. If Iguodala walks this summer, then the Warriors will have to fill that hole with much smaller contracts by way of exceptions.
GSW has $38m in guaranteed contracts + $60m in KD/SC/SL cap holds. Would rely on $8.4m or $5.2m exception if no Iguodala.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 29, 2017
An $8.4 million player, even taking a discount to chase a title with Golden State, likely won’t be as good a fit for what the Warriors get out of Iguodala – or what he deserves. Losing him wouldn’t have much of an effect on their title odds, but Iguodala was their best insurance against a major injury.
