© Kim Klement | 2017 Jan 22
For the first time since his holdout began during the offseason, Patrick McCaw explained his desire to leave the Warriors in an interview with Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
Well, he tried to explain his decision.
“That’s a tough question,” McCaw said Monday to Vardon regarding his desire to leave.
“I loved playing in Golden State,” McCaw continued. “My teammates, the coaches, it was nothing really … nothing stands out to me to say I didn’t want to go back. Think it was just a personal thing where I was just like, I think it was time for me to move on for a new opportunity within myself. Nothing against Golden State, front office, coaches, players, the environment, it had nothing to do with any of that. It’s just a personal thing, and I wanted a new opportunity to move on.
“I can’t say anything other than it was all me. Nothing against Golden State. I just wanted to move on.”
McCaw, 23, unexpectedly elected not to show up for Warriors training camp, or sign the two year, $5.2 million contract that Golden State put on the table. Instead, the third-year guard held out and waited for another team to offer him a better deal. As a restricted free agent, such an offer would leave the Warriors with a decision to either match or let McCaw walk.
It took until last week for McCaw to receive an official offer sheet, a two year, $6 million non-guaranteed contract from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors — considering that McCaw had no desire to rejoin the team, and that adding him to the roster would cost $11 million in luxury tax — didn’t match.
“More than anything it kind of saddens me,” Steve Kerr said on Monday. “Because I think everybody here likes Patrick. We love his game, we drafted him for a reason and he fit right in. His teammates would’ve welcomed him back, but the financial implications were too great, particularly when we need our roster flexibility going forward.
“We want to maintain a roster spot in order to make an addition either at the trade deadline or the buyout deadline. It’s just too bad the way it all unfolded, but we wish Patrick well and hope he does well in Cleveland and we all move on.”
Steve Kerr on the end of Patrick McCaw’s brief Warriors career: “The financial implications were too great, particularly at a time we need our roster flexibility.” pic.twitter.com/MfqUbf8sAz
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 31, 2018
The Warriors selected McCaw in the second round with the 38th pick of the 2016 draft. McCaw averaged four points per game while shooting just over 42 percent from the field and over 29 percent from 3-point range in two seasons combined.