Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will gather together on Wednesday to rehearse their Kevin Durant pitch, set to take place Friday afternoon in The Hamptons. They’ll also have to spend part of the day coming up with a contingency plan ready to hit the ground running if and when Durant chooses to remain in Oklahoma City.
Here’s what has been reported thus far that’ll effect Plan B:
- Shaun Livingston is coming back for $5.7 million next season — a wonderful bargain with the rising salary cap.
- Harrison Barnes has been linked to the 76ers — new management in Philly is desperately trying to make a splash for the fan base and apparently at the orders of Adam Silver.
- The Warriors have been linked to several big men and drafted Vanderbilt center Damian Jones, all but signaling the end for Festus Ezeli.
If Durant spurns Golden State, the Warriors shouldn’t be on a star chasing pursuit. The team needs one sturdy replacement for Barnes, another big man, and a combination of some bench players who can shoot threes.
Naturally, Joakim Noah is a player that makes so much sense. And even though he’s probably the exact opposite of Durant, he’s really an ingredient the Warriors are missing.
When he was a broadcaster, Kerr tweeted glowing things about Noah’s ability to deliver in big games. Using the 6-foot-11 center paired as a defensive specialist with Draymond Green has potential to be lethal and evokes images of the Bash Brothers from The Mighty Ducks trilogy. The Warriors won’t need Noah to be a scorer at all — Golden State needs his intensity and toughness, more than anything. They need an experienced enforcer, someone who won’t be scared to challenge coaches and teammates. He’ll crush opponents with screens on offense and cause chaos underneath on the boards. While he’s less thunderous and athletic than Ezeli, he’s reliable and crafty. And he’s got a swag about him that’ll give the Warriors a completely different vibe — probably a good thing after a crushing Game 7 NBA Finals loss to LeBron.
He also makes Andrew Bogut’s $16.6 million salary expendable, or potentially not. If the price is right for Noah, there is room for both centers on this team. Bogut shifting to the second unit with Iguodala and Livingston would give the Warriors’ bench a new and improved look.
Noah is 31, so age concerns are legitimate. So are injuries. He’s coming off a season where he played just 29 games after shoulder surgery. Noah’s best days are behind him. But then you remember the Warriors dynasty aspirations don’t have Myers and owner Joe Lacob looking seven years down the road. Steph Curry will turn 29 next season, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will each turn 27. Golden State’s window for another championship is right now. Noah may only help them for two seasons, but they’ll be pivotal considering everyones age.
The hesitancy with signing Noah is the price tag. There are conflicting reports about whether the Wizards would spend the max on Noah, but it’s clear there are going to be some desperate franchises in free agency making foolish mistakes. The Knicks are also heavily rumored to want Noah. But if a winning culture is what Noah craves and Myers can pinch a few pennies, this match seems to make perfect sense.
Now for the trickier card: Barnes. Marc Stein reports the team would recommit their efforts to bring back No. 40 if Durant chooses to take his talents elsewhere. It’s unclear if Kerr or Myers is driving the Barnes bus, but somebody has to take control of the steering wheel and bring the pair back to reality. If Barnes was a weak link on the floor in the NBA Finals, what makes the Warriors think he’s going to conquer those demons with a new contract? The Cavaliers essentially left him wide open, just like how the Warriors treated OKC’s Andre Roberson in the Western Conference Finals, and he shot 16 percent over the final three games, all losses. Committing this much money to an inconsistent player is financially irresponsible.
If the Warriors are looking for an immediate upgrade over Barnes, they may have to sign a greedy player looking to cash in on a one-year contract — something Durant and LeBron are both inclined to do themselves. The NBA’s salary cap is projected to increase to $94 million this season, a towering leap, and will only be skyrocketing from here on out. Boo-koo money is at stake.
Next year, the Cavs can offer LeBron a five-year deal projected to be worth in between $201M & $205M, according to @WindhorstESPN
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 29, 2016
Someone like 6-foot-10 power forward Ryan Anderson may be willing to take a fat check and bet on himself in the Warriors’ system. Durability concerns have softened Anderson’s market and he isn’t the strongest defender. But he can be a matchup nightmare, and Golden State can feel confident he can drill open three-pointers in the corner and provide rebounding.
Anderson’s highest grossing season in the NBA is just $8.7 million. Depending on what Noah would sign for, anywhere between $15-20 million for a one-year deal with Anderson is beyond fair. Then the Warriors will have him and Bogut coming off the books next season, freeing up room for Curry’s impending max contract.
Beware of Chandler Parsons. He has too much star aspirations, something Barnes’ role really doesn’t call for. Expect a team like the Hawks to hit the panic button and max out Parsons. It’s unlikely Marvin Williams would take a short term deal or even leave Charlotte after a career-year, but he would also be a nice fit. The bottom line: Golden State has to replace Barnes. Setting him up as the team’s highest paid player in the locker room, no matter the circumstances the NBA’s salary cap is presenting, is the Warriors settling.
“If you aren’t getting better, you are getting worse,” Draymond Green said. Read between the lines on that one.
Now for Mo Speights, Leandro Barbosa and Brandon Rush. Honestly, how much better can you get than that trio? Barring any unforeseen offers, Speights and Barbosa returning seem like strong bets. Rush fell out of favor with Kerr, despite some media pining the veteran should’ve been playing over Barnes in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It wouldn’t be surprising if Rush chose to sign elsewhere just for the fact he wants to see the floor. The Warriors also do have a $5.3 million trade exception from the David Lee trade, and could obtain a bench piece that way, or another big man if they deem Noah too pricey.
On paper, Noah and Anderson don’t really move the needle as individual players — not like Kevin Durant would. But when you consider what the Warriors already have in place, the pair of veterans provide stability and will give the recharged Warriors an improved look in both the post and on the perimeter.
