3 biggest free agent mistakes in Golden State Warriors history

DENVER - JANUARY 05: Andris Biedrins #15 of the Golden State Warriors warms up prior to facing the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 5, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Warriors 123-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

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LANDOVER, MD – FEBRUARY 6: Chris Webber #4 of the Golden State Warriors during a NBA basketball game against the Washington Bullets at the U.S.Air Arena on February 6, 1994 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Warriors biggest free-agency mistakes: 1. Chris Webber draft day contract

This mistake may be the biggest mistake in Warrior’s history. The Warriors were able to get a future all-NBA player in a draft-day trade with Orlando Magic, moving up from the third spot in the draft to take Chris Webber. The Warriors signed Chris Webber to a massive contract for his rookie deal.

This was before the standard rookie contract was put in the NBA CBA and teams were allowed to sign a rookie to whatever contract they could negotiate with the player’s agent. Midway through the season, Webber began feuding with then-coach Don Nelson.

Webber had an opt-out that allowed him to be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and Golden State began to get very worried about losing him. This dragged into the summer and Webber was traded to the Wizards where he would start a Hall-of-Fame career after his rookie season.

The Warriors gave Webber an extremely well-paid deal at the time. If they were gonna offer him this type of deal, the Warriors should have at least structured the deal in a way that was heavily towards the team. The rookie scale contracts that NBA players have now makes this deal and the whole situation look unbelievable, and it likely contributed to labor disputes between the NBA and the Player’s uUnion later on in the decade.

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