Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, July 1st.
The 2024 NBA Free Agency period is off to a rough start for the Golden State Warriors. It all began on Saturday afternoon as the team’s homerun plan of trading for superstar Paul George came to halt after he opted out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and became an unrestricted free agent. In a recent article from The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami, he detailed the Warriors’ trade discussions with the Clippers, including which players the team was willing to deal for the nine-time All-Star wing.
REPORT: The Warriors offered packages to the Clippers for Paul George that included variations of Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, Chris Paul, and a 1st-round pick, per @timkawakami.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 30, 2024
The Clippers weren’t interested in trading him to Golden State. pic.twitter.com/bvB8WQ1kv6
In the end, the Clippers were content with the idea of losing George for nothing in free agency — something that ultimately became their reality as he signed a four-year, $212 million max deal to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The move not only allows Los Angeles to avoid the punitive effects of the CBA’s second apron, but they also successfully move George to the Eastern conference and keep him from joining a division rival.
With the Warriors striking out on George, potentially losing Klay Thompson, and reportedly rejecting a trade for the Chicago Bulls’ Zach Lavine, the team is quickly running out of options and may need to get more creative in order to improve their roster for the upcoming season.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, July 1st:
Any possible PG13 trade between the Warriors and Clippers was always going to be complicated, but Warriors executives thought they’d solved the puzzle. From what I’ve heard, some combination (but definitely not all) of Wiggins, CP3, Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody plus one future first-round pick were put into discussions with the Clippers.
There were versions that would’ve limited the Clippers’ long-term money liability; there were versions that would’ve increased the future benefits. I’m told the Warriors likely would not have put Wiggins and Kuminga together into any offer, but also that it never got that far, anyway. If that’s what would’ve closed the deal … who knows.
My understanding is that the money concerns weighed heavily on the Clippers’ side. If PG13 leaves as a free agent, they get nothing back … but they also get out from the second apron and have more roster maneuverability.
On Friday evening at the team’s first media availability of training camp, Canadian general manager Rowan Barrett said he got a call from the Warriors a few days before the start of camp saying Wiggins would not be available to play. When asked if Golden State gave him a reason, Barrett said, “That’s something you have to talk to them about.”
A Warriors spokesperson responded to a request for comment from The Athletic by saying the decision was made mutually by Wiggins and the team and Golden State could not preclude him from playing for Canada. This was a medical decision, team sources said.
“Well, for us, Andrew was fine,” Barrett said. “We were talking to him consistently. He’s been training for weeks and weeks getting ready for this. And then I got a call from Golden State a day or two before camp saying that they’re holding him out. So, from what I see, this is not an Andrew decision. This is from the team.”
Bulls offered Zach LaVine to Warriors for a trade package centered around Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins, per @ChrisBHaynes.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2024
The Warriors declined.
(via B/R's NBA Free Agency Show) pic.twitter.com/5XDf2pEbFs
Overall, Paul’s pick-and-rolls with the Golden State Warriors were about average, but he found a strong partner in rookie center Trayce Jackson-Davis, averaging 1.03 points per chance. Considering Wembanyama’s finishing ability and versatility, it should be easy for him and Paul to beat that mark next season.
Given Wembanyama’s diverse skill set, San Antonio won’t want him strictly screening for Paul. When Wembanyama is isolating slower defenders or posting up smaller ones, Paul’s shooting ability should be helpful, too. Remember, the Spurs started the season playing non-shooter Jeremy Sochan (31% from 3) at point guard, and Jones is also a below-average 3-point shooter (33.5% on just 3.2 attempts per 36 minutes). Defenses will have to honor Paul, who shot 37% on 4.9 attempts per 36 minutes in 2023-24.
Golden State Warriors 2024 Summer League Roster: pic.twitter.com/WXDwSYfgei
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 30, 2024
“Paul has informed us that he is signing his next contract with another team,” the Clippers said in a release Sunday night.
The team added, “We negotiated for months with Paul and his representative on a contract that would make sense for both sides, and we were left far apart. The gap was significant. We understand and respect Paul’s decision to look elsewhere for his next contract.”
Free agent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is leaving the Denver Nuggets and finalizing a three-year, $66 million deal with the Orlando Magic, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.
Caldwell-Pope, 31, had been a lynchpin at both ends for the Nuggets since arriving in Denver two years ago, helping them to the 2022-23 title with his 3-point shooting and ability to guard opposing perimeter stars.
In each of his two seasons in Denver, Caldwell-Pope — a career 36.9% 3-point shooter — has eclipsed 40% from deep while also playing in 76 games both years. As a defender, Caldwell-Pope allowed a league-best 40.6% field goal percentage as the closest defender last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, while frequently taking on the toughest assignment.
Enough people seem to like this, so I figured I would share with all.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2024
This isn't the be all, end all of what different levels mean for NBA teams, but think of it as a quick reference guide for when you hear all about cap space, over-the-cap and first & second aprons this summer! pic.twitter.com/NPUapAmSot
A sign-and-trade is beneficial to both sides. It gives the Warriors their best chance at recouping some talent instead of losing Thompson (and Chris Paul, who was just waived) for nothing. And it gives Thompson the opportunity to maximize his profits, as he can be sign-and-traded into a team that might not have the cap space to offer him a large contract outright.
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