NBA free agency: Golden State Warriors pick up Shaun Livingston’s option
By John Buhler
The Golden State Warriors plan to bring back elite backup point guard Shaun Livingston by exercising their team option on the important backcourt piece.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Golden State Warriors plan “to keep Shaun Livingston on its books for next season. The Warriors could save a full $2.7 million if they release Livingston by Thursday, but … the club is definitely keeping their veteran point guard, who will thus earn a guaranteed $5.7 million next season.”
While Golden State will have to make some roster calibrations to clear up enough cap space to sign Kevin Durant to a four-year maximum contract in 2016 NBA free agency, Golden State general manager Bob Myers made a great, pragmatic move in bringing back Livingston for 2016-17.
The former Los Angeles Clipper has become arguably the best backup point guard in the game the last two years with the Warriors. Livingston has full command of Steve Kerr’s offense and reduces the burden on star point guard Stephen Curry.
Given that the free agency market for point guards this summer looks to be incredibly thin, the Warriors can’t afford to land a lesser version of Livingston to back up Curry in 2016-17. Livingston has no real offensive game to speak of beyond the arc, but he is an incredibly efficient player in the mid-range and is excellent at attacking the rim.
If Golden State wants to be championship caliber, it has to keep key rotational players like Livingston around, even if it ends up costing them close to $3 million. Livingston wants to play in Golden State and the Warriors wisely chose to keep him around.
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