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With less than eight hours before he becomes a free agent, Patrick McCaw is reportedly reviewing a two-year offer from the Golden State Warriors, according to a report from Logan Murdock. The offer was initially reported to be for two years, $4 million.
UPDATE: According to Mark J. Spears, the offer is a two-year, $5.2 million deal with a non-guaranteed second year and was offered to him earlier in the offseason. According to Spears and others, McCaw plans to turn the deal down tonight.
As of 9 p.m. PT on October 1, McCaw declined to accept the one-year, $1.71 million qualifying offer from the Warriors and is officially a restricted free agent. According to Mark Medina, the Warriors will have three days to match any offer he receives.
It’s actually a two-year deal paying about $5 million and the second year is not guaranteed, a source said. https://t.co/YkrY0U6KM9
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 2, 2018
The situation has reportedly perplexed people within the Warriors organization, according to Anthony Slater.
One team source on Patrick McCaw’s free agency strategy: “Bizarre.” Tough to imagine him returning at this point. It’s a 9th/10th man hardballing the defending champs. The locker room has noticed. But in long run, he’s betting on himself. On him to prove he’s right.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 2, 2018
According to Murdock, a large part of the reason McCaw did not accept the Warriors one-year, $1.71 million qualifying offer, which expired at midnight EST October 2, is because he is looking to sign a two-year deal and enter free agency in 2020.
McCaw had been pushing for a second year on his contract so he could enter free agency in 2020 as an unrestricted free agent. https://t.co/nTACrqBq8H
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) October 1, 2018
McCaw’s thought process may have something to do with a projected spike in the NBA salary cap. In 2020-21 the NBA salary cap is projected to rise to $118 million, a more than $16 million improvement from the $101.9 million mark that it’s been set at for the 2018-19 season. That growth is $2 million more than what was initially expected for the 2020-21 season, according to Shams Charania.
From last memo to teams in June, NBA's projections are unchanged for 2019-20 season — but 1.5 percent ($2M) higher for 2020-21 season due to BRI projections and projected shortfall-based adjustment. https://t.co/4cX8FOj7BV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 18, 2018
Correction: An earlier version of this story included a report that said McCaw had until 8:59 PT on October 1 to accept the two-year, $5.2 million offer. McCaw had until that time to accept the one-year $1.71 million qualifying offer.
