[TrumpCard]

I know it sounds berserk and sacrilegious, but...

The Warriors should trade Klay Thompson if they want the new core to have a championship chance, while the young guys are still on rookie deals.

They simply must get under the luxury tax threshold, not only to afford the roster, but to be in position to sign a big 20-something Free Agent to replace what Klay provided to a degree, maybe even Wiggins if he needs to go too.

If they don't trade a big contract they will be facing a $500M payroll when tax is factored in.  That's just not going to happen.

I don't understand the intricacies of NBA salary cap management to know exactly what the options are, but it sure seems like a monumental challenge to figure it all out given all the variables that must be juggled.

I don't think that'll happen this summer because the team won't give up its shot at a title and because I don't expect the Warriors to get anything of value in return for Klay given his contract and injury history.  Maybe part of the solution will be trading Klay next summer when he'll have only 1 year left on an expiring deal.  A team under the tax threshhold might be willing to pay Klay for a year to get a first round pick to help with a re-build, sort of like what the Warriors were able to do with Igoudala's contract a couple of years ago.  The key would be timing the eventual rebuild so that it doesn't line up with the year that the Warriors give up that first round pick.

I also could see the Warriors letting Looney and/or Payton walk this summer.  (Porter is for sure too expensive.)  Looney and Porter are very solid players who would help this team, but a championship level core can attract veteran role players who are willing to play for the league minimum.

[TrumpCard]

I know it sounds berserk and sacrilegious, but...

The Warriors should trade Klay Thompson if they want the new core to have a championship chance, while the young guys are still on rookie deals.

They simply must get under the luxury tax threshold, not only to afford the roster, but to be in position to sign a big 20-something Free Agent to replace what Klay provided to a degree, maybe even Wiggins if he needs to go too.

If they don't trade a big contract they will be facing a $500M payroll when tax is factored in.  That's just not going to happen.

I don't understand the intricacies of NBA salary cap management to know exactly what the options are, but it sure seems like a monumental challenge to figure it all out given all the variables that must be juggled.

I don't think that'll happen this summer because the team won't give up its shot at a title and because I don't expect the Warriors to get anything of value in return for Klay given his contract and injury history.  Maybe part of the solution will be trading Klay next summer when he'll have only 1 year left on an expiring deal.  A team under the tax threshhold might be willing to pay Klay for a year to get a first round pick to help with a re-build, sort of like what the Warriors were able to do with Igoudala's contract a couple of years ago.  The key would be timing the eventual rebuild so that it doesn't line up with the year that the Warriors give up that first round pick.

I also could see the Warriors letting Looney and/or Payton walk this summer.  (Porter is for sure too expensive.)  Looney and Porter are very solid players who would help this team, but a championship level core can attract veteran role players who are willing to play for the league minimum.