Despite the current state of the Golden State Warriors, team owner Joe Lacob remains in good spirits. The 64-year-old majority owner of one of the most popular sports teams in the world understands his team is going nowhere this season.
Lacob now looks ahead the next two seasons — which just happens to be the last two years his superstar Stephen Curry will be under contract. The San Francisco-based franchise is currently above the luxury tax after absorbing Andrew Wiggins' massive contract from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Dubs acquired the 24-year-old swingman at the deadline in exchange for D'Angelo Russell.
Lacob discussed how managing the luxury tax will be key to keeping Curry, per Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.
“Our payroll right now, right now, is well over $200 (million) for next year (counting luxury-tax penalties). People don’t do the math to understand it. We know what it’s going to be. It’s going to be the highest payroll we’ve ever had next year. We know that. The question is how high. If there’s a trade-exception (deal) that we really want, that’s worth it, let’s consider it. Mid-level exception? Very likely to use,” Joe Lacob said.
“The first pick in the draft, if we were to get that? With luxury tax, (that contract would be) huge. Really, the emphasis is on next year. The next two years, our window — Steph’s last two years under contract, before we hopefully bring him back again — we need to field the best possible team we can. That was the emphasis.”
The current Warriors ensemble is unrecognizable from the championship-winning squad they paraded in recent years. Stephen Curry will have to make do with the Dubs' current roster when he returns to the line-up in March.
Golden State is also expected to welcome Klay Thompson back from injury next season and could add more pieces next summer.
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