SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors fans hoping for a splashy, big-name addition this offseason will likely be disappointed by the team that is seeking its fifth NBA championship of the Steph Curry era.
The Joe Lacob-owned Warriors have shown a proclivity to add superstars – Kevin Durant in the 2016 offseason and Jimmy Butler a few days before the trade deadline this past February.
So why can’t the Warriors’ billionaire ownership group simply outspend the rest of the league and add another megastar to the core of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green?
Well, those three are set to make a combined $139.6 million this upcoming season, according to Spotrac.com, and the salary cap is projected to be $154 million. The other six players expected to be back would make a projected $30.88 million total.
Without making one’s head spin with financial jargon, the collectively bargained salary cap rules have instituted penalties for teams that spend too far above the cap.
“It’s just almost impossible for us to add players in the salary range of guys we were looking at last summer since we’ve added Jimmy,” Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy said on Monday.
If Jonathan Kuminga signs his qualifying offer, that would add another $10.2 million to the books and put the Warriors at $180.7 million.
He could also just sign a $20-plus million-per-year deal that could be used in a sign-and-trade, or be kept if the team believes he is part of the Warriors’ future.
Golden State will also need to fill out the rest of the roster. Gui Santos and Quinten Post are expected to be back for around $2 million each. Rotation players Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II are unrestricted free agents.
The Warriors have a $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception (NTMLE) at their disposal if they stay below the luxury tax, and a $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception if they go into the luxury tax. Aside from a Kuminga sign-and-trade, the NTMLE would likely represent their best chance of acquiring an impact player.
If a team’s payroll exceeds $187.9 million, it must pay a luxury tax.
If salaries reach $195.9 million, a team will enter the “first apron,” which is when it would face heavy restrictions on how it can acquire players. Reaching the “second apron” of $207.8 million would result in more provisions.
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Staying under the second apron will be difficult for the Warriors, but not impossible. Here is how Golden State’s salary cap situation maps out.
Warriors salaries (per Spotrac):
Steph Curry: $59,606,817; Jimmy Butler: $54,126,450; Draymond Green: $25,892,857; Moses Moody: $11,574,075; Buddy Hield: $9,219,512; Brandin Podziemski: $3,687,960; Gui Santos: $2,221,677; Trayce Jackson-Davis: $2,221,677; Quinten Post: $1,955,377