Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said in April that his organization was operating as if they were already in “off-season mode,” and now that his team's campaign is officially over, the Dubs' leadership is clearly focused on next season and beyond, when they expect to be competing for championships again.
According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, despite the financial losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Warriors ownership is still committed to spending big to win now while their stars approach the ends of their primes.
As Letourneau points out, the salary cap could drop by as much as $10 million for next season, which would leave the Warriors with a steep $195 million luxury tax bill. Yet, owner Joe Lacob “is unlikely to let a drop in the cap change how it approaches roster-building,” writes Letourneau.
Theoretically, the Warriors could trade their upcoming top-5 pick and/or decline to use their mid-level exception, but the willingness to spend is consistent with how the organization has operated for years, and the franchise will likely utilize their first top-5 pick since 2002.
The Warriors were able to save about $40 million at February's trade deadline, and they still have a valuable trade exception worth just over $17 million—obtained in the trade with the Memphis Grizzlies involving Andre Iguodala. They could dangle their draft pick and/or the trade exception for the next few months, which would allow them to add another quality player to the roster.
The 2020 NBA Draft is now slated for Oct. 15, while free agency period will open on Oct. 18.
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