A player $2.7 million contract in exchange for future assets and savings on the luxury tax would

 A player $2.7 million contract in exchange for future assets and savings on the luxury tax would

A few weeks remain until the NBA Trade Deadline, and according to league sources, the Golden State Warriors would be willing to move Dario Saric before February 8th. The Warriors may have revised their expectations for this season in an attempt to stretch their championship window around Steph Curry’s remaining years, as seen by their decision to move Saric’s $2.7 million deal in exchange for some future assets and luxury tax savings.

The approximately $2 million contract of the 29-year-old big man expires this summer, and he is currently on one of the league’s most team-friendly deals. Any team vying for a championship would benefit from the 6’10” Croatian’s ability to spread the floor, maintain offensive flow, and put up a strong battle on the boards. In little over 20 minutes a game, Saric is averaging 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists.

With two games remaining in the play-in playoffs, the Warriors are now two games behind the final berth in the Western Conference. Golden State may also save millions on the luxury tax charge thanks to a Saric arrangement. When searching for a team that is willing to sell by the deadline, don’t undervalue those dollars. The Warriors will have several reasons to dump their investment on Saric if they are not in a position to win a postseason game. One league source emphasised that the next three years are significantly more important than the next three months.

According to reports, Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga are also up for trade, although neither would bring back a lot of draft money. Although Kuminga is still under development, Wiggins is entitled to almost $85 million for the following three seasons. One source states that draft assets and possibly an inexpensive minimum-level player with an additional year of team control on his contract are the anticipated returns for Saric. The organisation does want to maximise Curry’s chances of winning a sixth NBA championship, the source added, but the financial consequences cannot be underestimated.

Saric has far outperformed the minimum deal he signed with the organisation in free agency and has been a rare bright spot for Golden State this season. Acknowledging the seasoned center’s contribution during Draymond Green’s indefinite absence earlier in the season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr candidly acknowledged that Saric would be entitled to a substantial increase in free agency this summer, referencing the team’s ongoing financial limitations.

Due to the team’s salary cap overrun, Golden State will only be able to offer Saric a contract up to 120% of his earnings this season if he is retained into the offseason. Otherwise, they will only have non-Bird Rights. Saric was always going to be a one-season rental for the financially strapped Warriors, much like Donte DiVincenzo before him, returning to the open market after regaining his value while supporting a contender.

Of course, the Dubs have fallen short of those expectations, but Saric is not to blame. Serving as a screening and dribble hand-off hub in Kerr’s motion-heavy offence, he has been everything and more that Golden State could reasonably expect from a bench big playing on a minimum salary. He has shot a career-best 39.1% from deep on career-high volume. Saric has also shown himself to be a cunning and opportunistic player when it comes to driving, frequently defeating opposing big men off the bounce and distributing his weight on the offensive glass.

Saric is still a problem in defence since he can’t seem to decide where to play on that side of the ball. Although he isn’t quick enough laterally to keep up with most forwards, much less transition onto dynamic guards without getting roasted, he lacks the length and lift to be a useful rim deterrent. Saric needs to be protected defensively even though many contenders would find him to be an attacking enhancement off the bench.

a readiness to relocate According to Saric, Golden State is prepared to rearrange the roster around Curry this summer rather than risk everything at the trade deadline because it knows it won’t make a significant impact in 2023–24.

Saric’s value to the Warriors has increased with the rise of the tiny but athletic rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis. The Warriors might potentially get more playing time for Kuminga in the frontcourt by trading Saric for modest draft compensation and luxury tax savings.

Prior to February 8th, keep an ear out for any rumours regarding Saric. In addition to becoming a useful third or fourth big man for a contending team, a Saric trade would help spread the word throughout the league about the Warriors’ intentions to sell or largely hold onto their current roster as the trade deadline approaches.