Warriors’ Payroll For Next Season Is Already $166.7M

We do not have a set number yet for what the salary cap and luxury tax thresholds will be for the 2021-22 NBA season, but the one thing we do know is that the Warriors are going to be way over both of these numbers. Even with Kelly Oubre Jr. set to be a free agent at the conclusion of this season, Golden State is set to pay $166.7M in player contracts since Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green will all be making $24M+ next year. 

This team has no flexibility to go out and improve their roster outside of signing players to minimum deals and drafting players, which is why cutting ties with Draymond now could save this organization a lot of money. They will be paying millions of dollars in taxes this season to keep the team they currently have together and realistically, they do not look like a championship contender.

If Klay Thompson was healthy this year, there is no doubt the Warriors would be a Top-5 team in the NBA this year, but with him out, there is a major hole on this roster. They do not have that second-legit scoring option next to Steph and while both Wiggins and Oubre Jr. have stepped up at times this year, they have been inconsistent scorers all season long. 

With both Steph Curry and Kevon Looney coming up on key contract extensions and with virtually no space to sign key free agents next offseason, it would make a lot of sense for the Warriors to make the painful move now and trade away Draymond Green. 

He is a great facilitator and passer on the offensive-end of the court, but outside of running the offense and playing defense, he is a major liability on the floor. With him being paid $20M+ per year, it makes more sense to trade him now before his value goes down.