Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, June 27th.
According to an article from The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, the Golden State Warriors are “aggressively” shopping Andrew Wiggins in trade discussions as they look to revamp their roster this offseason. A fluctuating role caused a major dip in Wiggins’ performance last season as he averaged 13.2 points and 4.5 rebounds, with an effective field goal percentage of 51.1% — all career-lows for his time with the Warriors.
Having said that, Wiggins’ $26.2 million contract and his ability as a defensive wing make him an intriguing part of the Warriors’ efforts to facilitate major changes. Although Golden State will still need to make sure they get someone to replace his point of attack defense, moving Wiggins could be the key to unlocking a more balanced and dynamic roster for the upcoming season.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, June 27th:
Golden State has pathways to facilitate major changes this summer. It holds the 52nd pick in this year’s draft, owns its first-round picks outright from 2025 to 2029, and has several players with uncertain futures. League sources believe Andrew Wiggins, who struggled to find a consistent role last season, will be aggressively dangled in trade talks. The Warriors are also working hard to find a trade partner for Chris Paul, whose non-guaranteed $30 million salary for 2024-25 could be useful for matching purposes—but they have only until Friday, the last day they can waive Paul before his deal becomes fully guaranteed for next season. (Unless Paul and the Warriors agree to push the guarantee date into July.) And the most polarizing offseason question is Klay Thompson, who is expected to test free agency for the first time in his career.
Multiple league sources contacted by NBC Sports Bay Area on Wednesday confirmed Golden State’s interest – and willingness to pursue a maximum contract extension with George – while also citing numerous circumstances that could prevent the vision from becoming reality.
What are the circumstances? First, George would have to exercise his option for the final year of his current contract ($48.8 million), providing LA with a sign-and-trade option. Second, both the Warriors and Clippers would have to drop below the second apron, which can’t happen before Sunday afternoon, when Klay Thompson and James Harden become free agents. Third, Paul would have to make it clear he’s willing to leave LA, where his nearby family can attend every game.
Fourth, and most significant, the Clippers would have to decide not only that they’re willing to trade George, but to trade him to a Western Conference competitor like the Warriors.
Keshad Johnson, PF, Arizona
Described by NBADraftNet.com as “one of the most athletic players in college basketball,” the 6-foot-7 Johnson is an Oakland, Calif., native known for his explosive dunks and spectacular 3-pointers. After four seasons at SDSU, Johnson transferred to Arizona for the 2023-24 season and broke out, scoring in double figures during 24 of 36 games, including three games of 20-plus points.
It's all in the details
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 26, 2024
The Statement Edition uniform highlights The Bay Bridge, uniting Bay Area communities. pic.twitter.com/Q2xtzLe2HJ
THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2024 NBA DRAFT IS COMPLETED pic.twitter.com/epw58Ehd0u
— ESPN (@espn) June 27, 2024
Hollinger’s analysis: Put in your offers for Deandre Ayton, everyone! Hello … hello? Anyone there? With or without an incumbent center under contract, Clingan was pretty clearly the best prospect left on the board, and there was no way Portland could pass up this kind of value proposition. And hey, Ayton only has two years left on his deal.
His decision to play out next season commits him to Miami and clears up any notion of a trade demand due to the lack of an extension. Butler has an affinity for Miami and has wanted to stay with the Heat, league sources said.
Meanwhile, the Heat have shown no interest in trading Butler, league sources said. Theoretically, they could still trade him this summer if they found a deal that suited them, but Butler’s unwillingness to immediately sign an extension would likely limit the return they would receive for their best player.
Butler, 34, has two seasons remaining on his current maximum contract — $48.8 million in 2024-25 and a player option for 2025-26 worth $52.4 million — and a handful of NBA teams have been closely monitoring his situation ahead of the draft and free agency.
Note: If a team tries to buy a second-rounder via trade with cash, they lock in a second apron hard cap. Most teams won't go that high in payroll anyway, but those that are above can't send out $ in trade
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) June 27, 2024
But their window of contention remains just barely open, as long as Steph Curry is on their team. George might be interested in staying in California, as his mother’s heath issues make it difficult for his parents, Paul and Paulette (really!) to travel to watch him play. San Francisco is a whole lot closer than Orlando to their hometown of Palmdale. Maybe Curry can help them find a house in Atherton, with or without a privacy fence.
Adding George might be mortgaging the future, but the team’s post-Curry future is a dystopian nightmare world already. If nothing else, his presence and his podcast should motivate Draymond Green to up his game on the court and on the mic.
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