The Golden State Warriors have clearly been at the forefront of setbacks thanks to the new CBA rules after spending big money for years to assemble the best, most competitive roster possible.
Over the past seven seasons, the Warriors have led the NBA in payroll three times and finished second three times. The only time the Warriors didn’t finish in the top two was in 2019-20, when they took explicit cost-cutting measures after it became clear from the start of the season that they were doomed.
Golden State, which finished second in spending for the fourth straight year, has adapted to the punitive measures now imposed on teams above the first and second tax brackets. With the departures of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul in free agency, the Warriors will cap themselves in the first tax bracket and fall outside the top 10 in total payroll for the first time in five years.
In an offseason poll released by ESPN on Monday, which polled 18 coaches, scouts and executives across the league, “teams surviving the new luxury tax apron” was ranked as the biggest offseason trend. In fact, this “trend” garnered two-thirds of the total votes, with one Western Conference executive telling ESPN: “The league has stopped wasteful spending.”
The new apron rule was no doubt put in place to thwart the money-sparing nature of Golden State owner Joe Lacob and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. It’s worth noting that the Warriors were intent on continuing to spend big money, especially considering they were in the running to acquire Paul George before he became a free agent. Reports have also suggested the Warriors are content to give the nine-time All-Star a maximum contract extension.
However, given the Clippers’ own spending-cutting goals, they were unwilling to give up the salary necessary to make a trade between the two sides happen, and George opted out of his contract, becoming an unrestricted free agent and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
After George’s failed attempt, Golden State apparently moved to try to position itself under the first and second aprons, as one Eastern Conference executive told ESPN: “Once you reach a certain threshold, it becomes impossible to improve your team and you get stuck.”
The Warriors didn’t want to be stuck in a bind. They used their newfound flexibility to sign valuable role players like De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield to mid-level contracts. And while they don’t have much mobility left in free agency, they do have the freedom to explore a wider range of trades that players above the apron can’t.
It will be interesting to see how this rule affects the remainder of the Warriors’ offseason, particularly contract negotiations with 2021 top draft picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, who are extension-eligible.
