After nabbing Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City Thunder in the offseason, there was bound to be drawbacks after getting the 2014 Most Valuable Player in the NBA. Chemistry issues certainly cropped up in the first games of the season but that looks sorted for now as the side keeps on racking up wins with fluid plays like the one witnessed against Phoenix Suns where Durant’s blocked shot turned into a three point shot from Steph Curry in transition.
Then there was the glut of bench options that got dispersed to accommodate Durant’s salary and like the experiences the side went through at the early stages of the season, Curry and Co have sorted it out pretty well to an extent even JaVale McGee is impressing.
However, looking to the future, Golden State Warriors still have serious matters to deal with perhaps more pertinent than the one listed above. Durant is likely to decline the second year of his two year $54 million contract for an improved one at a time Curry will cash in on his outstanding ascent to the top of the league hierarchy.
For what it’s worth both Durant and Curry will be in line for $100 million multiyear contracts each and that should create huge problems for management to keep the fearsome core with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the mix after signing big contracts of their own.
The league is flooded with money but having all four guys with big contracts in the team will be difficult to execute unless Joe Lacob plans on filling the remaining spots on the roster with players on rookie contracts. Essentially, either Thompson or Green has to be let go and from what we are witnessing, Thompson is likely to get shipped out.
Legendary player turned adviser Jerry West halted Thompson’s trade for Kevin Love before Golden State’s championship run in 2015 but the dynamics don’t favor Klay a lot this time around. His two way skill-shooting and playing top defense- on the perimeter can be and is being replicated by Durant so when the chance pops up to fortify the bench, for knock down prices, without sacrificing much in defense and effort, the possibility of a swap cannot be wrong.
Former player now analyst Brian Scalabrine’s statement regarding trade talks between Golden State, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia Sixers featuring Thompson has gained traction because it keeps all three partners happy. Per his scenario, Thompson gets moved to Boston in exchange for Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder plus Brooklyn Nets first round pick in next year’s draft then Golden State move that pick to Philadelphia Sixers for Nerlens Noel. In simplistic terms, Boston needs shooting beside those from Isaiah Thomas and to make Al Horford a credible third offensive option. Sub par shooting was the main reason Celtics fell to Atlanta Hawks in last year’s playoffs as the Hawks swarmed Thomas forcing him to defer to his teammates without getting the desired results. Statistics peg Boston with the eight best offensive rating this season but looking at the team play, it is obvious scoring remains a major issue to address.
Sign up Thompson and poof problem solved. For the Warriors, stashing Crowder and Bradley on the bench gives the side financial flexibility to answer contract calls of Curry and Durant and maintain its defensive rating in the highs. Crowder will earn less than eight million dollars for the next four years including this season. Bradley on the other hand will earn little over eight million dollars for this season and next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent which is a coup for last season’s All-NBA Defensive First Team member. Armed with Brooklyn’s draft pick should the trade go through, Golden State would flip it to Philadelphia Sixers for disgruntled Center Noel.
In Noel, the Warriors get a young, long limbed, mobile defensive big man who can deputize for slow footed Zaza Pachulia in the paint and be a perfect pick and roll option for Shaun Livingston in the second unit. Again problem solved. For Philadelphia Sixers-the ever rebuilding franchise- getting what will definitely be another top draft pick, judging from Brooklyn Nets play this season, will be welcomed with aplomb as the chance to get another potentially franchise altering talent like Joel Embiid is proving to be this season, cannot be turned down. On the surface, this trade situation is a perfect fit for all three teams as it solves the most pressing needs.
But a dip into the murky business of contract situations and locker room politics steers the deal away from the straight jacket form it has. For instance, Bradley will be up for a major payday after the 2017-2018 season which is likely not to be taken up by Golden state who will have their hands full sorting out KD and Steph. Having Bradley play little under two seasons as part exchange for Thompson’s two full seasons excluding the current campaign and quality, would be bad business.
Another noteworthy point is the fact that Thompson’s average salary of $16 million is a bargain for his status as an All-Star meaning the Warriors may be strapped for cash in the coming years, but they wouldn’t be looking to part ways with a deal like that for a player who stands to gain more without being on the same level.
If Boston can replace Bradley with an equally top defensive Guard and competent shooter on a much longer contract say Patrick Beverley, then a trade can happen but until that happens, your guess is as good as mine.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
