Warriors’ key offseason dates: Contract deadlines, free agency and more
The Warriors have suddenly entered the postseason after losing to the
Kings in the play-in tournament
>Golden State Warriors’ Klay Thompson #11 is greeted by Jonathan
Kuminga #00 as he comes out in the fourth quarter of their NBA play-in
tournament game against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden One Center in
Sacramento, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area
News Group)
Author

By JOSEPH DYCUS | jdycus@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: April 17, 2024 at 4:00 a.m. | UPDATED: April 17, 2024 at 4:21
a.m.
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/04/17/warriors-key-offseason-dates-contract-deadlines-free-agency-and-more/

The Warriors lost to the Kings 118-94 on Tuesday night in the play-in
tournament, ending their season without a playoff appearance.

Big questions loom for the Warriors this offseason. Here are the key
dates fans should know about.

- NBA Draft Lottery: May 15

The Warriors don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but the
result of the lottery could impact which teams might be a viable trade
partner for Golden State around the draft.

- Contract decision dates

The Warriors have a chance to clear a number of big contracts off the
books after the highest-paid roster in league history failed to make the
playoffs. Here are the decision deadlines on three key players,
according to ESPN.

Gary Payton II: June 19

Payton has a $9.13 million player option for next season on the deal he
signed the last time he was a free agent, in 2022, when he left for
Portland before being traded back.

Kevon Looney: June 24

The big man whose role shrunk considerably this season will make $8
million if he is not cut before June 24, but is is guaranteed at least
$3 million no matter what.

Chris Paul: June 28

Paul is due $30 million in the final year of his contract, but none of
that sum is guaranteed. The 38-year-old point guard was an extremely
steady hand for the bench, but his salary far exceeds the expected pay
for a backup guard.

- NBA Draft: June 26-27

Even if the Warriors don’t trade up for a first-round pick in what has
been panned as a historically weak batch of prospects, Golden State
still has a second-round pick at No. 52.

Trayce-Jackson Davis, a revelation as a rookie, was essentially the
Warriors’ second-rounder in the 2023 draft after they acquired his
rights from the Wizards on draft night.

And some guy named Draymond Green has carved out a pretty nice career
after being picked 35th overall in the 2012 draft.

- Start of NBA free agency negotiations: July 1 (July 6 to sign)

Will Klay Thompson leave the only team he has ever played for in his
Hall of Fame career? Following ACL and Achilles tears, he’s no longer
the two-way superstar who torched defenses during the dynasty’s run.

He shot 38.7 percent from the 3-point line over 77 games this season,
showing he is still capable of playing winning basketball. But will the
Warriors be willing to pay Thompson what other teams starved for
shooting may be willing to pony up for the 34-year-old?

- NBA Summer League: July 12-22

Barring a blockbuster trade, the Warriors probably won’t have a highly
touted rookie playing in the summer circuit. But the 10-day league has
often been a chance for second-year players to show off against inferior
competition for a few games.

Brandin Podziemski, Jackson-Davis and Gui Santos should have an
opportunity to partake in that cherished Summer League tradition of
putting up superstar numbers against future overseas role players,
college coaches and accountants.

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- Paris Olympics: July 27-Aug. 11

Superstar Stephen Curry has earned MVPs, championships and a host of
All-NBA and All-Star honors. He has even won a pair of FIBA World Cup
trophies in 2010 and 2014.

But an Olympic gold medal is still missing from his long list of
accolades. In what could be his only appearance for the national team at
the Olympics, Warriors fans will watch Curry run point for the heavy
favorites to win gold for the fifth consecutive time.

- Training camp opens: First week of October

NBA teams reconvene at the beginning of October to kick off the new
season. The Warriors will start their quest for the fifth title of the
Curry era, and perhaps their first without half of the Splash Bros. duo.