The Golden State Warriors have not followed up their championship season in the best manner, now that the team stands 31-30 and being bang average on both ends of the court in the 2022-23 season so far. They have returned with the same core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green except they re-signed both Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole to long-term deals to keep them as the cornerstones. The championship hangover is real, and the Warriors are going through it right now.
Interestingly enough, the stars have shown up on paper. Curry has been solid all year averaging 29.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 6.4 APG on 49.5% FG, 42.7% 3-PT FG, and 92.2% FT. With the best player on the team scoring like he is, the Warriors should be a lot better than what their 30-30 record says. Although to be fair, Steph has only appeared in 38 games and is possibly enjoying his fair share of load management after a long season in 2022. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson has been solid by averaging over 20 PPG on 40.8% 3-PT FG.
Similarly, Klay has only appeared in 49 games so far. Poole has not been great, as he is shooting under 35% from three, and has yet to play up to his contract worth. Of course, Draymond Green caused some locker room havoc earlier in the year. With so much inconsistency, it is no wonder why the Warriors have struggled to grasp the Western Conference this year. Assuming the Warriors do not win a championship this year, as this is almost a certainty given how inconsistent they have been all year, what does next season look like?
Warriors fans are basically waiting for Stephen Curry to return to the lineup with the hopes of a late championship surge, but could also be waiting to see what the franchise does with Draymond Green, possibly an exiled star. But what does the 2024 season look like from now?
Rather, how does the Warriors’ salary cap stand after the team signed Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole to long-term deals that pay each of them over $24 million per season? It is time to look at the Golden State Warriors’ salary cap situation in the 2023-24 season and deduce how they can plan their attack to win a championship next year. Similar to what we did when we analyzed the Los Angeles Lakers salary cap in 2024, the Golden State situation could be a little bit more complex. By utilizing a mix of attracting free agents, re-signing talented players, and letting some others go, here is how the reigning NBA champion Warriors can plan their 2024 NBA season.
Warriors Players Under Salaries
Stephen Curry – $51,915,615
Klay Thompson – $43,219,440
Jordan Poole – $28,705,357
Andrew Wiggins – $24,330,357
Gary Payton II – $8,715,000
Kevon Looney – $8,500,000
Patrick Baldwin – $2,337,720
Ryan Rollins – $1,719,864
Obviously, Stephen Curry is in for the long term as he has a contract in 2024 and is getting paid over $55 million until the end of the 2026 NBA season. Klay Thompson is under contract in 2024 for over $43 million, but then he is a free agent. It is very likely that both stars are untouchable unless a top-10 player in the world somehow becomes available, and in that case, Klay could be moved. Otherwise, Curry and Klay will be Warriors players next season and when healthy and playing at least 65 games each, they might be the best backcourt in the NBA because their shooting, experience, and impact are undeniably great.
Other Warriors players under contract include recently-extended Wiggins and Poole, who will be long-term starters for the franchise. It is possible that Klay becomes a free agent and decides to take on a new challenge, in which case Poole could be Curry’s new “Splash Brother” going forward. Wiggins, one of the best two-way wings in the NBA, is making decent money considering his talents, and at only 28 years old, he has a ton more to offer. At the very least, Curry joins Wiggins and Poole as certain long-term pieces beyond 2024. Gary Payton II was brought back in before the trade deadline, and at under $9 million per season, will be invaluable in terms of defense and effort.
Kevon Looney has been an excellent servant for Golden State, and at under $9 mullion per year, he is a nice piece to rebound, defense, and set strong picks for the shooters. Patrick Baldwin and Ryan Rollins are both under contract but are making minimal amounts of money which hardly affect the salary cap. Overall, the Warriors have set themselves up nicely for next year with Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, and Poole taking the bulk of the money while a few role players remain on the roster at reasonable contracts.
Player Options
Draymond Green – $27,586,224
Donte DiVincenzo – $4,725,000
Draymond Green is the player in the spotlight when it comes to player options. A former Defensive Player of the Year and the undisputed vocal leader of the dynasty Warriors, Green should be untouchable considering most circumstances. But the forward has become somewhat of an outcast in Golden State. Look at Green’s history. He got himself suspended and cost the team the championship in 2016 and even ended the Kevin Durant era due to an on-court altercation.
His most recent attack on Jordan Poole at practice was the final straw, and the Warriors might feel that the player who helped them win 4 NBA titles is not worth the trouble anymore. Regardless, unless a team like the Lakers or another contender offers Green a long-term contract, Draymond could decline his player option. Otherwise, if no team comes knocking, taking over $27 million could still be in the cards for one more year.
It will be very interesting to follow the Draymond Green saga since both Wiggins and Poole received contracts, and Green has yet to receive one. As he said himself, the writing could be on the wall in terms of him being a Warriors player. Donte DiVincenzo, a solid two-way guard, has been a nice pickup for Golden State and he is posting 9.0 PPG on 41.5% shooting while playing solid defense. Golden State hopes Donte exercises his player option, but he could be looking for more money on the market.
Team Options
Jonathan Kuminga – $6,012,840
Moses Moody – $3,918,480
Ty Jerome – $1,761,752 (Qualifying Offer)
Anthony Lamb – $1,761,752 (Qualifying Offer)
Golden State also has a few players with team options attached to them, meaning the Warriors have plenty of flexibility in the 2024 season. Jonathan Kuminga is one of the brightest young players in the Western Conference because he combines size at 6’8” with elite athleticism and a promising skill set as a two-way player. Golden State almost certainly brings Kuminga back at under $7 million unless a trade for a key player comes up. The same goes for Moses Moody, a solid defender and promising floor-spacer who is only 20 years old. Both Kuminga and Moody are important long-term pieces for Golden State unless a player with star quality comes up, and they could be moved.
Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb could be pieces Golden State bring back to shore up their bench, and the money that could be paid to them via a qualifying offer is not much. As a result, the Warriors need to focus mostly on retaining Kuminga and Moody, who are both talented and almost certain to be on the team in 2024 and beyond.
Free Agents
Andre Iguodala
JaMychal Green
The least important players for the Warriors in 2024 are the free agents. Andre Iguodala was brought in for his locker room presence, leadership, and experience on and off the court. Iggy has become a legitimate assistant coach with the way he leads the guys, and he made under $3 million this season. Iguodala is 39 years old, and if he wants a veteran minimum contract to return to Golden State, the franchise will probably have no issue bringing him back on board for another championship run.
Meanwhile, JaMychal Green was brought in for his experience, hustle, and three-point shooting as a big man. Green had plenty of experience playing for a contender in the Denver Nuggets last year, and he can be relied upon to hustle and play hard on both ends of the court. Green also made under $3 million this season, and unless another team wants to pay him more than what Golden State might offer, Green could return to the franchise.
Warriors Currently Have $156 Million For Salaries In 2023-24 Season
The Golden State Warriors have a total of $156 million in salaries for the 2023-2024 season that is fixed. That is a reasonable number considering that four starters are getting paid most of the money and will be the championship core going forward. Of course, the number of $156 million could get close to $190 million if they bring Draymond Green back and other young players such as Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
It is important to note that the salary cap for the NBA season will likely rise to $134 million and $162 million on a tax level, which is record-breaking. With this amount of extra money being afforded to the Warriors, the flexibility for the Warriors to move on from Daymond Green is extremely enticing. Remember, the Warriors have the ability to trade players on their salary cap, including Kuminga (team option extended) and Moody, who are valuable trade assets. Of course, there are also first-round picks in 2023, 2025, and 2026 that could be included in any deals. With Draymond, Kumingga, and Moody in the mix along with picks, perhaps Golden State can engage with other teams with a chance to acquire another star player who can impact the floor alongside Curry, Klay, Wiggins, and Poole. The most valuable free agents have to be James Harden (player option), Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Russell, Nikola Vucevic, Jerami Grant, Russell Westbrook, Fred VanVleet (player option), and Khris Middleton (player option). None of these players truly fit in Golden State’s system, besides probably VanVleet, Grant, and Middleton. It is expected that Middleton re-signs with the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Warriors could realistically engage in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors or Trail Blazers for VanVleet or Grant accordingly.
Golden State already made a smart move to trade James Wiseman to the Detroit Pistons, which saved the franchise a reported $131 million. That is a major move because losing this much money for the sake of one player who hardly plays is nowhere near a smart move. With this amount of money saved, the Warriors need to focus on the future. Stephen Curry, for both his talent on the court and marketing value, should return a Golden State Warrior. Wiggins and Poole are in for the long-term, meaning Klay Thompson is part of the “Big Four” that could go for greener pastures following next season. The same goes for Draymond Green, who could actually be done next season. If a star player becomes available (Bradley Beal, Zach LaVine, or top free agents), losing Green, Kuminga, Moody, and picks makes sense as soon as next season. If not, beginning back Green and hoping for health makes sense as well. Of course, Klay Thompson needs to make a long-term decision if he wants to retire a Warrior like Stephen Curry.
The Warriors have more flexibility than most thought entering the 2024 season, mainly thanks to an increase in the salary cap and the potential of valuable trade assets in Draymond, Kuminga, Moody, and first-round picks. It is up to the Warriors to maneuver well in the market and trade as least as they can for the top stars while bringing back as much as they can on minimum deals. Golden State’s season is not over because they are in a playoff spot, but they likely won’t win a championship without consistency all season long. Expect Golden State to lose Draymond next year if it means bringing in star players or other elite role players in place of the 4-time NBA champion. Otherwise, Golden State could bring Green back on board for one more year and possibly look to offload Green and possibly Klay Thompson in the 2025 season.
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