Even without the injury, they should let one of the four go(and my guy would be green prior to injury). Green's attitude eventually wears thin on everyone, and you can always find a very good defender for much cheaper than you'll find any of the talent such as klay, steph, KD.
With KD's injury, I would let him walk this year. If he hadn't been hurt I could see signing him to make a couple more runs, but with his injury you're going to pay a ridiculous amount of $ for a guy who won't play in year one of his deal. There are also no historical examples of players staying elite after this injury. Putting that much $ into a guy on the off chance he's the first guy to come back isn't a risk that good franchises make.
This is one of those moments where historically good franchises(like the patriots) cut bait on a player maybe one year too soon, but lets them compete for a decade longer. They would be best to keep at least curry/klay and at least green for remainder of his contract and then fill in the roster with pieces which can help if there are injuries. Steph isn't the pillar of health and age isn't going to exactly shine brightly on improving his ability to stay on the floor. Getting guys to keep them in games and let curry play a little less will be more of the Spurs model and how they stayed good for 10+ years.
This is exactly why you re-sign KD (or try to). GS will eat shit for a year while KD and Klay re-hab. Steph is going to get the shit beat out of him next year. GS is gonna semi-suck next year - letting KD walk puts the entire concept of uncertainty back in play. And the uncertainty of KD coming back healthy is a lot less than the uncertainty of whoever the fuck GS can attract via free agency, trades or the draft. KD is still gonna be 7'0" tall, he's still gonna be able to get a shot off over any human on the planet. He's still gonna be barely 30 years old...at LEAST 8 years left in his basketball body. It's not like he's playing in the 80's and 90's and getting physically manhandled every night by Rodman or Anthony Mason.
Now, if GS can pull a hail mary and sign Kawhi, well, that's a different tale.
No way GS could sign Kawhi unless it was a sign and trade and they would have to deal one of the 4 stars to make the financials work. Even if they let both KD and Klay walk they still dont have the cap space to sign a max player.
Not paying attention. GS owners are all multi billionaires. They give zero fucks about luxury tax.
It’s all about the valuation.
Rich guys care about being rich and keeping their money or they would give tickets away and hand out keg cups every night. A BILLION dollars is a ridiculous amount of money to pay in luxury tax for 4 years.
This. There is no way no matter how much anyone has that you can convince me paying a billion dollars for basically 3 years of KD makes any sense at all.
They are going to be paying a portion of that $1B with or without KD ... the numbers really only get crazy if they keep all 4 of them together.
Even without the injury, they should let one of the four go(and my guy would be green prior to injury). Green's attitude eventually wears thin on everyone, and you can always find a very good defender for much cheaper than you'll find any of the talent such as klay, steph, KD.
With KD's injury, I would let him walk this year. If he hadn't been hurt I could see signing him to make a couple more runs, but with his injury you're going to pay a ridiculous amount of $ for a guy who won't play in year one of his deal. There are also no historical examples of players staying elite after this injury. Putting that much $ into a guy on the off chance he's the first guy to come back isn't a risk that good franchises make.
This is one of those moments where historically good franchises(like the patriots) cut bait on a player maybe one year too soon, but lets them compete for a decade longer. They would be best to keep at least curry/klay and at least green for remainder of his contract and then fill in the roster with pieces which can help if there are injuries. Steph isn't the pillar of health and age isn't going to exactly shine brightly on improving his ability to stay on the floor. Getting guys to keep them in games and let curry play a little less will be more of the Spurs model and how they stayed good for 10+ years.
This is exactly why you re-sign KD (or try to). GS will eat shit for a year while KD and Klay re-hab. Steph is going to get the shit beat out of him next year. GS is gonna semi-suck next year - letting KD walk puts the entire concept of uncertainty back in play. And the uncertainty of KD coming back healthy is a lot less than the uncertainty of whoever the fuck GS can attract via free agency, trades or the draft. KD is still gonna be 7'0" tall, he's still gonna be able to get a shot off over any human on the planet. He's still gonna be barely 30 years old...at LEAST 8 years left in his basketball body. It's not like he's playing in the 80's and 90's and getting physically manhandled every night by Rodman or Anthony Mason.
Now, if GS can pull a hail mary and sign Kawhi, well, that's a different tale.
This is what i was thinking. Kawhai fits perfectly personality wise with Klay and Steph and also brings elite defense.
The problem is everyone knows KD is going to sign that 31.5 million dollar player option and absolutely fuck there ability to do much in free agency.
If they could clear KD salary, trade Green, and renegotiate Iguodala to a lower salary they could do some pretty crazy things like sign Kawhi.
Hypothetical IF:
Drop KD and clear the cap space.
Trade away Green for for whatever you can get plus a 1st round pick. (no idea what the market would be)
Resign Looney
Sign FA Brook Lopez who is a big that can shoot 3s and probably isnt too expensive
Sign Patrick Beverly, can be your new lightening rod for the team, plays good defense, and will be cheap
Draft some lanky 4 in mid 1st like Kabengele, Hachimura, or Clarke and then Tybulle as specialist defender late 1st round.
Steph and Kawhi are good enough to carry the team until Klay comes back and makes them busted again.
Bigs: Lopez and Looney Wings: Kawhi and Klay PG: Steph
I think people undervalue Draymond Green and misclassify Steph as a PG. After all Draymond brings the ball up more and makes more plays at the top for others than Steph. Steph has great handle but is almost always looking to score. If the W's lose Draymond's defense, passing and rebounding, they are a different team and not for the better.
I don't think people undervalue green. I think people understand that he has two things going against him. 1) he's a massive douche and eventually(or already) he's going to be so annoying his talent isn't worth the headaches he causes for the team. And 2) he's going to be an elite defender until he retires, but his other skills will erode enough where paying max salary for a defender isn't logical.
The dude is amazing especially on that team. He doesn't "need" shots, so he fits in perfectly on a team with 3 shoot first guys.
Championship teams are laden with douches that supposedly are tearing a locker room apart throughout history. If you show up at money time, that’s all that counts. Hell. I’m not sure Golden State Beats Portland without him this season.
As long Draymond takes care of his body, He’s got at least 3 more strong seasons left. Pay the man.
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As long Draymond takes care of his body, He’s got at least 3 more strong seasons left. Pay the man.