4 key offseason moves Golden State Warriors absolutely must make
By Mark Powell
2. Find a way to sign Trevor Ariza in free agency
Cap space and the Warriors are like oil and water this offseason, but if the opportunity to add Trevor Ariza to a veteran deal presents itself the Warriors need to find a way to make it happen.
Ariza could easily fill a veteran role we’ve seen players like Andre Iguodala occupy in the past. In fact, using Ariza in that Iggy role and adding 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists average to the Warriors second unit could help avoid situations like the one they confronted against the Grizzlies.
Not to mention Ariza shot over 41 percent from the floor this season, which would have been very useful in both of the Warriors play-in games.
Bonus: If the Magic are interested in adding Kelly Oubre to whatever they’re building, then the Warriors should absolutely use him to try and land Terrence Ross.
1. Give Steph Curry a contract extension
While most younger star players might prefer to wait until the summer of an expiring contract to reach peak value, Curry is no longer the young gun he once was. At 33 years old and with a lot of mileage on his legs, Curry is looking to cash in on perhaps his last max contract, and the Warriors have the financial incentive to make him a Golden State lifer.
So, what’s the holdup?
Curry is on the books for an enormous $45.7 million next season. That number alone should make Lacob faint. But in reality, given everything Curry has done for the franchise over the long haul, it’s an affordable number. That amount of money will only go up in the long-term, and given his age it could be in the interest of both sides for Curry to give up some money in the short-term to guarantee his long-term financial flexibility.
Also, it would help the Warriors put a more competitive team around him into his late-30’s should he come them some sort of a break on the books, even if only a few million per season.
Either way, Curry is going to get paid this offseason or next, as he should. For the Warriors sake, we hope that’s in Golden State and not down the road with his new friend LeBron James.