While the Warriors had a great season last year, they have been playing at a new level half-way through this season, leading the Western Conference by more than five games. They have had some long winning streaks, and while everyone is waiting for them to stumble, they have been consistent throughout the season. The leaders of the team are clearly Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who are both playing at a very high level. But they were also playing at a high level last year when the Warriors were in the middle of the pack in the West. So, who is the true difference maker?
Enter Draymond Green. David Lee’s early season injury has provided the second round pick out of Michigan State with the opportunity to start for almost all of the season and he has taken full advantage. His averages of 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists do not tell the full story, as Green makes a huge impact on the defensive end of the floor where he is capable of guarding positions 1 through 5.
However, Golden State will be faced with a tough decision this off-season, when Green is a restricted free agent. A team could very well offer him somewhere in the $10-15 million dollar range, a salary that would put the Warriors well over the luxury tax line for next season if they were to match.
The key variable here may be the new TV deal the NBA is about to sign which is scheduled to bring in billions of dollars of revenue over the next few years, causing the salary cap to rise. If the cap rises significantly in the 2016-17 season as expected, the tax line would rise along with it. That means that Golden State would have to bite the bullet for one year and pay large taxes, but would most likely be able to maneuver a way under the tax line after that.
Would the Warriors owners be willing to pay the extra tax for one year to keep Green on the team? Given the team’s success and young core, my guess is yes. I expect the Warriors to find a way to keep their glue guy around for as long as possible, but if another team comes knocking with a max deal, it will certainly put the owners in a tough spot.
NBA Rumors: Will the Warriors Re-sign Draymond Green
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